THE 


SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 


A    RECORD. 


BI 

MAJOR    GEORGE    L.   WOOD. 


NEW    YORK: 
PUBLISHED    BY    JAMES    MILLER, 

(SUCCESSOR  TO  c.   s.   FRANCIS  A  GO.,) 

522    BROADWAY. 

1865. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1865, 
BY  JAMES    MILLER, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  for  the 
Southern  District  of  New  York. 


AUTHOR'S  PREFACE. 


THE  following  pages  were  written  for  the  purpose 
of  making  a  permanent  record  of  the  facts  within 
the  author's  knowledge  relating  to  the  Seventh  Ohio 
Regiment  The  work  was  undertaken  with  the  be 
lief  that  the  doings  and  sufferings  of  the  regiment 
were  of  sufficient  magnitude  and  importance  to  en 
title  it  to  a  separate  record.  It  has  been  extremely 
difficult  to  obtain  facts,  on  account  of  so  large  a  por 
tion  of  the  members  still  being  in  the  service.  The 
book  is,  therefore,  written  principally  from  memory. 
If  it  serves  to  perpetuate  in  the  minds  of  the  public 
the  hardships,  as  well  as  long  and  faithful  service,  of 
this  gallant  regiment,  then  the  object  of  the  author 
is  accomplished. 

WARREN,  May,  1865. 


Ml  81765 


PREFACE. 


THIS  preface  to  the  history  of  the  Seventh  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry  is  written  at  the  request  of  the 
accomplished  author  of  the  book ;  but  without  hav 
ing  read  it,  seen  it,  or  heard  its  contents.  I  have, 
however,  such  confidence  in  the  ability,  honesty, 
candor,  good  judgment,  and  good  taste  of  my  old 
friend  and  "  companion  in  arms,"  that,  for  myself, 
I  take  his  work  on  trust,  and  in  cheerful  faith  com 
mend  it  to  others. 

But  was  there  a  demand  for  another  book  on  the 
war?  Or  were  the  doings  and  sufferings  of  one 
regiment,  among  the  thousands  engaged  in  the  war, 
of  such  interest  as  to  demand  a  separate  history? 
These  are  questions  the  author  doubtless  weighed 
carefully  before  he  began  to  write ;  and  his  answer 
to  them  is  his  book.  I  agree  with  him.  This  na 
tion  has  a  deep,  and  will  have  a  lasting,  interest  in 
the  war.  "We  have  been  making  history  of  un 
rivalled,  perhaps  of  unequalled,  importance  to  the 
world  during  the  past  four  years.  We  ourselves 


6  PKEFACE. 

cannot  comprehend  the  magnitude  of  the  work  we 
have  been  doing,  or,  rather,  that  God  has  been 
doing  through  us.  The  successful  revolts  of  the 
!Netherlanders  against  the  tyranny  of  Philip  II. — 
of  the  Puritans  against  the  tyranny  of  Charles  I. — 
of  the  republicans  against  the  tyranny  of  George 
III.,  dwindle  to  insignificance  (important  as  they 
were)  in  comparison  with  the  successful  revolt  of 
the  loyal,  Union-loving,  freedom-loving  citizens  of 
this  Republic  against  the  tyranny  of  treason  and 
slavery.  It  was  a  great  fight  for  a  great  cause,  and 
God  has  given  us  a  great  victory.  There  was  not  a 
nation  on  earth  that  was  not  interested  in  the  con 
flict.  Ay,  it  concerned  our  common  humanity. 
All  this  will  be  seen  more  clearly  and  felt  more 
deeply  twenty,  fifty,  a  hundred  years  hence  than 
now.  But  to  transmit  and  perpetuate  the  fruits  of 
this  victory  we  must  have  records  of  the  war — many 
records,  made  from  many  difierent  points  of  view, 
and  of  many  kinds,  great  and  small.  The  history 
of  this  war  is  not  yet  written,  perhaps  cannot  be 
successfully  written  for  many  years  yet.  And  that 
it  may  one. day  be  written  as  it  should  be,  every  regi 
ment  that  has  a  story  to  tell  should  tell  it.  These 
regimental  histories  will  be  invaluable  to  the  Ban 
croft  who,  fifty  years  hence,  shall  write  the  history 
of  this  war.  The  world  is  only  beginning  to  under 
stand  the  true  character  and  vocation  of  history — to 


PEEFACE.  7 

make  the  past  live  in  the  present ;  not  in  great 
pageants,  not  in  processions  of  kings,  princes,  and 
mighty  conquerors,  but  in  the  common  every-day 
speech  and  deeds  of  the  people.  When  Merle  d'Au- 
bigne  would  write  the  History  of  the  Reformation, 
he  wrote  to  Guizot  for  counsel.  Guizot  encouraged 
%him,  and  counselled  him  to  proceed,  but  added,  "  Give 
us  facts,  incidents,  details."  This  counsel  chimed 
with  the  purpose  and  genius  of  d'Aabigne,  and  the 
result  was  a  history  that,  though  it  discusses  doc 
trines  and  themes  commonly  held  to  be  dry  and  un 
interesting,  has  for  old  and  young,  arid  men  of  all 
classes,  all  the  charm  of  romance.  In  this,  his 
"  facts,  incidents,  details,"  equally  with  his  fascinat 
ing  style,  lies  the  charm,  of  the  histories  of  Macaulay. 
But  that  historians  may  write  such  histories — that 
the  historian  of  this  war  may  write  such  a  history, 
the  "facts,  incidents,  details"  must  be  on  record. 
There  is  a  demand,  therefore,  for  another  book,  for 
many  other  books,  on  the  war. 

In  addition  to  this,  every  regiment  of  the  grand 
Army  of  the  Union  in  this  war  has  its  own  history, 
of  peculiar  interest  to  its  own  especial  friends.  And 
I  have  faith  in  what  Dr.  O.  W.  Holmes  once  said : 
"I  would  not  give  a  fig  for  a  man  every  one  of 
whose  geese  were  not  better  than  any  other  man's 
swans."  To  us  of  the  old  Seventh  "  all  our  geese 
were  swans."  Whether  others  believed  in  us  or  not. 


8  PBEFACE. 

we  had  faith  in  ourselves  and  in  one  another ;  we 
were  a  mutual  admiration  society  of  a  thousand  and 
odd  men.  And  the  fact  is,  that,  for  some  reason, 
but  what  I  cannot  say,  the  Seventh  Eegiment,  from 
the  day  it  was  mustered  into  service  to  the  day  it 
was  mustered  out,  was  always  the  pride  and  pet  of 
Ohio,  of  Northern  Ohio  especially.  In  this  respect 
it  never  had  a  rival.  True,  it  was  a  well-disciplined, 
gallant,  fighting  regiment ;  but  so  were  many  others. 
True,  it  had  brave  and  accomplished  officers ;  but  so 
had  many  others.  True,  it  had  in  the  ranks  men  of 
refinement,  education,  and  high  social  position ;  but 
so  had  many  others.  I  am  at  a  loss  to  account  for  it, 
but  the  fact  nevertheless  was  as  I  have  stated  it; 
and  as  its  deeds  corresponded  with  its  renown,  its 
doings,  of  all  others,  demand  a  permanent  record. 
And,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  the  reader  of  the  follow 
ing  pages  who  shall  follow  the  Seventh  from  the  day 
it  was  mustered  into  service,  in  Cleveland,  in  1861, 
to  the  day  the  pitiful  remnant  of  it,  after  tramping 
and  fighting  over  almost  half  the  Union,  were  mus 
tered  out  of  service,  in  Cleveland,  in  1864,  will  find 
in  them  ample  compensation  for  his  time. 

F.  T.  B. 
CHICAGO,  ILL.,  May,  1865. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  FALL  OF  SUMTEK. — ClVIL  WAR  BEGUN. — PREPARA 
TIONS  BY  THE  SOUTH. — NOBILITY 13 

CHAPTER   II. 

THE  PRESIDENT'S  CALL  FOR  TROOPS. — ORGANIZATION  OF 
THE  SEVENTH. — ITS  DEPARTURE  FOR  CAMP  DENNISON. 
— ITS  REORGANIZATION  AND  DEPARTURE  FOR  THE  FIELD .  19 

CHAPTER   III. 

THE  PURSUIT  OF  GENERAL  WISE. — TYLER  ORDERED  TO 
MENACE  GAULEY  BRIDGE  AND  THREATEN  WISE'S  COM 
MUNICATIONS  30 

CHAPTER   IY. 

THE  SKIRMISH  AT  CROSS  LANES. — GALLANT  CONDUCT  AND 

FINAL  ESCAPE  OF  THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT 43 

CHAPTER  Y. 

REFLECTIONS  ON  THE  SKIRMISH  AT  CROSS  LANES. — BATTLE 
OF  CARNIFEX  FERRY 56 

CHAPTER  VI. 

CHARLESTON  AND  THE  KANAWHA  VALLEY. — A.  DOUBLE 
MURDER. — COLONEL  TYLER  ASSUMES  COMMAND  OF  THE 
POST 63 

CHAPTER   VII. 

FLOYD  ESTABLISHES  BATTERIES  ON  COTTON  HILL. — DRIV 
EN  OFF  BY  THE  FORCES  OF  GENERAL  COX. — BENHAM'S 


10  CONTENTS. 

FAILURE  TO  INTERCEPT  HIS  RETREAT. — HlS    PURSUIT. — 

SKIRMISH  AT  McCoy's  MILLS. — His  FINAL  ESCAPE 70 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

REFLECTIONS  ON  THE  INSTITUTION  OF  SLAVERY 77 

CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  SEVENTH  ORDERED  TO  THE  EAST. — EXPEDITION  TO 
BLUE'S  GAP. — SKIRMISH  ON  THE  BLOOMING  PIKE 83 

CHAPTER  X. 

GALLANTRY  OF  LIEUTENANT  O'BRIEN. — DEATH  OF  GEN 
ERAL  LANDER. — THE  SEVENTH  ESCORT  HIS  REMAINS. — 
THE  OCCUPATION  OF  WINCHESTER 89 

CHAPTER  XI. 

THE  RECONNOISSANCE  TO  STRASBURG. — BATTLE  OF  WIN 
CHESTER. — UTTER  DEFEAT  AND  ROUT  OF  JACKSON'S 
ARMY , 94 

CHAPTER  XII. 

GENERAL  SHIELDS'  ANXIETY  FOR  LAURELS. — SUMMING  UP 
OF  THE  BATTLE. — LOSSES  IN  THE  SEVENTH ,  .  .  104 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

PURSUIT  OF  JACKSON  UP  THE  VALLEY. — MARCH  TO  FRED- 
ERICKSBURG,  AND  RETURN  TO  FRONT  ROYAL 109 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE  MARCH  ON  WAYNESBORO'. — Two  BRIGADES  ENCOUN 
TER  JACKSON  AT  PORT  REPUBLIC,  AND  AFTER  FIVE 
HOURS'  FIGHTING  ARE  COMPELLED  TO  FALL  BACK 114 

CHAPTER  XV. 

BATTLE  OF  CEDAR  MOUNTAIN. — GALLANTRY  OF  THE  RE 
GIMENT,  AND  TERRIBLE  LOSS 123 


CONTENTS.  11 


CHAPTER  XYI. 

THE  REGIMENT   GOES   INTO   CAMP  AT   ALEXANDRIA,   BUT  IS 

SOON  ORDERED   TO   THE  FRONT. — BATTLE   OF   ANTIETAM.    134 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE  MARCH  TO  DUMFRIES. — SKIRMISH  WITH  HAMPTON'S 
CAVALRY,  IN  WHICH  THEY  ARE  BADLY  DEFEATED  BY  A 
MUCH  INFERIOR  FORCE 143 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE     REGIMENT     ORDERED     TO    THE    FRONT. — BATTLE    OF 

CHANCELLORSVILLE 150 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

ACCOMPANIES  THE  GRAND  ARMY  INTO  PENNSYLVANIA. — 
BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG 156 

CHAPTER  XX. 

AFTER  REACHING  THE  RAPIDAN  IT  GOES  TO  GOVERNOR'S 
ISLAND. — AFTER  ITS  RETURN  IT  ACCOMPANIES  HOOKER'S 
CORPS  TO  THE  WESTERN  DEPARTMENT. 160 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE  SEVENTH  JOINS  GRANT'S  ARMY.-  THE  BATTLES  OF 
LOOKOUT  MOUNTAIN,  MISSION  RIDGE,  AND  RINGGOLD.  . .  164 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

THE  ADVANCE  TOWARDS  ATLANTA. — SKIRMISHING. — HOME- 
WARD  MARCH. — ITS  RECEPTION. — MUSTER  OUT...  .  170 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCHES. 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  E.  B.  TYLER 185 

BREVET  BRIGADIER-GENERAL  J.  S.  CASEMENT 189 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  JOHN  W.  SPRAGUE  ...   192 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  SAMUEL  MCCLELLAND 193 

MAJOR  FREDERICK  A.  SEYMOUR 196 


12  CONTENTS. 

SURGEON  FRANCIS  SALTER 197 

C.  J.  BELLOWS 198 

G.  E.  DENIG 198 

FREDERICK  T.  BROWN,  D.D ]  99 

CHAPLAIN  D.  C.  WRIGHT 205 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  GILES  W.  SHURTLIFF 206 

COLONEL  ARTHUR  T.  WILCOX 207 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  JAMES   T.  STERLING 208 

COLONEL  JOEL  F.  ASPER 210 

MAJOR  W.  B.  STERLING 214 

MAJOR  E.  J.  KREGER » , 215 

CAPTAIN  J.  B.  MOLYNEAUX 216 

CAPTAIN  CHARLES  A.  WEED 219 

CAPTAIN  JUDSON  N.  CROSS 220 

CAPTAIN  JOHN  F.  S.  CHUTTE 221 

LIEUTENANT  Louis  G.  DE  FOREST 222 

LIEUTENANT  HALBERT  B.  CASE 224 

LIEUTENANT  HENRY  Z.  EATON 226 

LIEUTENANT  A.  H.  DAY 227 

LIEUTENANT  WILLIAM  D.  SHEPHERD 227 

LIEUTENANT  E.  HUDSON  BAKER 229 

LIEUTENANT  RALPH  LOCKWOOD 230 

LIEUTENANT  T.  T.  SWEENEY 230 

LIEUTENANT  EDWARD  W.  FITCH 231 

LIEUTENANT  A.  J.  WILLIAMS .231 


OUR  DEAD. 

COLONEI*  WILLIAM  R.  CREIGHTON  AND  LIEUTENANT-COL 
ONEL  ORRIN  J.  CRANE 235 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  MERVIN  CLARK 291 

LIEUTENANT  HENRY  ROBINSON 295 

LIEUTENANT  E.  S.  QUAY 296 

LIEUTENANT  JAMES  P.  BRISBINE 296 

LIEUTENANT  CHARLES  A.  BROOKS 299 

LIEUTENANT  JOSEPH  H.  Ross .. 303 

LIEUTENANT  FRANK  JOHNSON .  304 


THE 


SEVENTH    REGIMENT 


CHAPTEE  I. 

THE  FALL  OF  SUMTEK. — CrVTL  WAK  BEGUN. — PEEPAEATIONS  BY 
THE  SOUTH. — NOBILITY. 

ON  a  gloomy  day  in  April,  1861,  the  telegraph 
flashed  the  news  over  the  country  that  Fort  Sumter, 
a  fortress  belonging  to  the  United  States,  had  been 
fired  upon  by  a  body  of  rebels,  and  thus  inaugurat 
ing  all  the  horrors  of  civil  war. 

By  the  great  mass  of  people,  civil  war  in  our  hith 
erto  peaceful  country  was  entirely  unlocked  for.  It 
burst  so  suddenly,  that  the  entire  country  was  con 
vulsed.  The  people  had  become  so  accustomed  to 
clamor  in  Congress  and  elsewhere,  that  they  looked 
upon  these  threats  to  dissolve  the  Union  as  mere 
bravado. 


14  TEti:    SS-YENTH    REGIMENT: 

After  the  first  clash,  of  arms  at  Fort  Sumter,  both 
North  and  South  drew  back  in  alarm,  as  if  in  fear 
of  the  coming  storm.  The  Southern  people,  how 
ever,  better  prepared  by  education  for  scenes  of  strife 
and  bloodshed,  received  the  news  of  the  inauguration 
of  civil  war  with  less  alarm  than  did  those  of  the 
North.  The  latter  received  it  with  a  fearful  dignity, 
conscious  of  the  power  to  crush  the  rebellion.  The 
South,  with  that  arrogance  that  becomes  her  so  well, 
expected  to  make  an  easy  conquest.  Long-continued 
exercise  of  power  in  national  matters,  had  taught  her 
to  look  upon  the  people  of  the  Free  States  as  her  in 
feriors,  needing  but  a  master-stroke  for  their  subju 
gation, — willing  to  lay  down  their  arms,  and  seek 
safety  in  dishonor.  They  had  taken  us  for  a  race  of 
cowards,  because  we  had  given  way  to  their  selfish 
demands  in  our  public  councils,  for  the  sake  of  peace. 
To  be  sure,  we  had  some  daring  spirits  in  Congress 
who  met  these  bullying  traitors,  making  them  feel 
the  full  force  of  Northern  valor.  But  these  were 
isolated  cases,  and  won  the  respect  of  the  Southern 
people  to  the  persons  of  the  actors  rather  than  to  the 
North  as  a  people.  They  looked  upon  these  spirited 
examples  as  rather  proving  the  fact  of  our  want  of 
chivalry  than  otherwise,  and  therefore  were  not  cor 
rected  in  their  false  estimate  of  a  people  whom  they 
were  about  to  meet  on  bloody  fields. 

One  reason  the  South  had  for  cherishing  so  mean 


A    RECORD.  15 

an  opinion  of  the  North  as  a  military  power,  was  on 
account  of  her  having  entirely  neglected  the  culti 
vation  of  the  art  of  war.  She  had  so  few  represen 
tatives  in  the  army  and  navy,  that  they  were  both 
almost  entirely  within  the  control  of  the  South. 

This  control  the  latter  had  exercised  for  years,  un 
til  her  people  came  to  look  upon  themselves  as  the 
only  persons  in  the  country  fit  to  bear  arms.  They 
flattered  themselves  that  they  were  the  army,  and 
we  but  a  rabble,  to  be  dispersed  beyond  the  hope  of 
reorganization  at  the  first  clash  of  arms.  But  in  this 
strife,  like  all  others  where  aristocratic  privilege 
comes  in  contact  with  the  freedom  of  democracy, 
these  arrogant  lords  were  to  meet  with  a  bitter  dis 
appointment  ;  they  were  to  be  made  to  respect  the 
strong  muscle  and  brave  hearts  of  the  so-styled  ple 
beian  North. 

This  avowed  hostility  of  the  South  to  the  North 
had  caused  the  former  to  take  a  military  direction, 
and  forced  her  into  a  course  of  policy  which,  how 
ever  outrageous  it  might  appear,  was  yet  a  matter  of 
necessity  in  her  attempt  at  independence.  The  first 
step  was  to  put  herself  upon  a  war-footing.  This 
she  had  been  perfecting  for  several  years.  The  next 
was  to  get  the  Government  so  in  her  control  as  to 
make  it  powerless  in  the  incipient  stages  of  the  re 
bellion,  that  it  might  gain  sufficient  strength  to 
withstand  the  first  shock,  and  thus  gain  precedence, 


16  THE    SEVENTH    EEGIMENT  : 

During  a  period  of  thirty  years  the  South  was 
gradually  assuming  a  war-footing.  The  militia  was 
organized ;  independent  companies  were  formed  with 
no  warlike  object,  as  was  generally  supposed,  but 
really  to  resist  any  encroachment  of  the  Federal 
Government  upon  what  the  leaders  deemed  the 
rights  of  the  Southern  people.  The  election  of 
Abraham  Lincoln  to  the  presidency  was  not  the 
cause  of  civil  war,  but  only  its  apology.  There  had 
existed  in  the  minds  of  the  Southern  people  a  desire 
for  an  independent  government,  which  would  give 
the  aristocracy  a  firmer  footing.  In  other  words,  the 
Federal  Government  was  too  democratic.  But  it 
was  necessary  that  these  conspirators  have  some  ap 
parently  good  reason  for  civil  war  ;  else  the  people 
who  were  at  heart  right,  would  desert  them  at  a 
time  when  they  were  most  needed.  The  time  for 
the  inauguration  of  civil  war  was  therefore  most 
fitly  chosen.  The  people  were  made  to  believe  that 
the  inauguration  of  President  Lincoln  was  a  suffi 
cient  reason  ;  and  thus  the  dream  of  thirty  years  of 
these  disunionists  was  at  last  realized.  The  apology 
for  the  war  had  been  substituted  for  its  cause,  and 
the  mass  of  the  Southern  people  made  eager  to  meet 
those  on  bloody  fields  whom  they  were  led  to  sup 
pose  were  about  to  deprive  them  of  their  rights  and 
precipitate  them  into  ruin. 

There  is  always  a  class  styled  the  nobility  in  every 


A    RECORD.  17 

nation.  But  the  true  nobility  in  America  is  that 
class  who  have  won  that  distinction  by  noble  deeds ; 
who  ai-e  great,  not  in  titles  and  garters  of  nobility, 
but  in  great  achievements :  not  that  class  who  base 
their  right  to  that  title  upon  the  number  and  charac 
ter  of  human  beings  they  may  own.  The  American 
people  hold  that  distinction  must  be  given  to  those 
by  whom  it  is  merited ;  and  that  it  cannot  be  the 
subject  of  monopoly.  Each  person,  however  mean 
his  birth,  has  the  same  right  to  enter  the  list  for  the 
prize  as  he  who  was  born  of  a  higher  rank.  It  is 
this  freedom,  which  is  given  to  all,  that  has  caused 
the  Northern  States  to  make  such  rapid  progress  to 
wards  civilization  and  greatness  ;  and  it  is  the  crip 
pling  of  this  great  principle  that  has  cast  a  shadow 
over  the  enslaved  South.  One  great  object  of  the 
leaders  of  the  South  had  been  to  arrest  the  rapid 
growth  of  the  North,  which,  they  were  conscious, 
would  one  day  throw  them  into  a  helpless  minority, 
for  they  could  not  themselves  keep  pace  with  this 
rapid  progress.  Their  ambition  was  to  have  capital 
control  labor,  while  the  laboring  classes  were  to  be 
subservient  to  the  capitalists,  and  a  sort  of  serfdom 
forced  upon  them.  The  wealthy  class  were  to  live 
in  luxury  and  indolence  upon  the  unrequited  toil  of 
their  slaves.  These  facts,  the  leaders  of  the  wicked 
rebellion,  which  they  were  to  inaugurate,  were  care 
ful  to  conceal  from  their  followers.  This  was  so  well 


18  THE    SEVENTH    KEGIMENT: 

done,  that  the  people  of  the  South  thought  that  these 
imaginary  wrongs  of  the  Government,  which  had 
been  pictured  to  them  by  their  masters,  was  the  true 
reason  of  their  attempt  at  separation  from  the  Union. 
It  is  hoped  that  the  masses  will  soon  see  the  differ 
ence  between  serving  a  privileged  class  of  aristocrats, 
and  being  members  of  a  free  Republic. 


A    EECOBD.  19 


CHAPTEE  II. 

THE  PRESIDENT'S  CALL  FOE  TROOPS. — ORGANIZATION  OF  THE 
SEVENTH. — ITS  DEPARTURE  FOR  CAMP  DENNISON. — ITS  RE 
ORGANIZATION  AND  DEPARTURE  FOR  THE  FIELD. 

ON  Monday,  April  15,  the  President  issued  a  call 
for  75,000  volunteers  for  three  months'  service.  The 
States  responded  immediately  to  this  call  in  double 
the  number  required.  Never  in  the  history  of  the 
world  was  such  a  response  witnessed  to  the  call  of 
any  country.  Men  left  their  implements  of  hus 
bandry  in  the  fields  and  rushed  to  the  recruiting 
stations.  The  executives  of  the  States  were  pressed 
with  applications  to  raise  companies  and  batteries 
under  the  call  of  the  President. 

Under  this  call  thirteen  regiments  of  infantry 
were  assigned  to  Ohio.  In  fifteen  days  71,000 
troops  were  offered  to  Governor  Dennison  to  fill  the 
quota  of  the  State.  Camps  were  now  established  at 
different  points  in  the  State,  and  troops  ordered  to 
rendezvous.  Camp  Taylor,  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  was 
organized  on  the  22d  day  of  April,  and  by  the  27th 
contained  several  thousand  troops.  Of  these,  the 
city  of  Cleveland  had  three  companies  of  infantry ; 


20  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

Tmmbull  County,  one;  Mahoning  County,  one  com 
pany  of  infantry  and  a  section  of  artillery ;  Portage 
County,  two;  Lake  County,  one;  Lorain  County,  one; 
Huron  County,  one ;  while  the  city  of  Toledo  was  rep 
resented  by  an  entire  regiment.  The  latter  part  of 
April  these  detached  companies  were  formed  into  a 
regiment,  constituting  the  Seventh  Ohio.  It  con 
tained  the  right  material  for  a  fighting  regiment. 
The  majority  of  its  members  were  of  a  floating  class, 
fond  of  adventure,  while  many  were  of  the  best  class. 
The  regiment,  as  a  whole,  combined  rare  military 
talent.  Many  of  its  officers  and  privates  were 
skilled  in  tactics;  and  those  who  were  not,  immedi 
ately  set  themselves  about  acquiring  the  necessary 
information,  rather  by  practice  than  study;  for, 
with  some  exceptions,  it  was  not  a  scholarly  regi 
ment.  The  members  took  too  much  the  character 
of  adventurers,  to  indulge  in  close  study  or  profound 
thinking.  But  for  practical  purposes,  I  doubt 
whether  the  regiment  had  a  superior  in  the  State. 
It  readily  acquired  discipline  while  on  duty;  but 
while  off  duty,  its  members  were  not  over-nice  in 
their  conduct,  seldom  indulging  in  sports  that  were 
absolutely  wrong,  but,  at  the  same  time,  gratifying 
that  propensity  for  fun  which  characterized  them 
through  their  entire  career.  It  contained  no  drones ; 
there  was  no  companionship  in  it  for  such. 

On  a  beautiful  Sabbath  in  early  May,  as  the 


A    EECOKD.  21 

morning,  with  its  freshness,  was  dispelling  the  damps 
and  shadows  of  the  night  from  city  and  country,  a 
regiment  was  seen  passing  down  the  streets  of  the 
city  of  Cleveland.  The  sweet  strains  of  music  and 
the  heavy  tramp  of  the  soldiers  alone  broke  the 
silence.  There  was  nothing  but  this  martial  bearing, 
which  marked  the  carriage  of  the  members  of  the 
regiment,  to  distinguish  them  from  the  multitude 
which  was  hastening  in  the  same  direction ;  for 
there  were  no  arms  and  no  uniforms.  Each  mem 
ber  was  dressed  in  his  citizen's  garb,  and  there  was 
no  attempt  at  military  evolutions.  It  was  a  simple 
march  of  determined  men  to  the  defence  of  their 
country.  Solemnity  and  a  becoming  absence  of  un 
necessary  enthusiasm  marked  the  occasion  with  sub 
limity  and  grandeur.  The  faces  of  those  brave  men 
were  saddened  with  the  thought  of  the  perils  which 
lay  before  them,  and  the  endearments  that  were  be 
hind.  They  were  marching  to  perform  a  sacred 
trust,  confided  to  them  by  their  countrymen.  "  This 
was  the  first  march  of  the  gallant  Seventh."  Ar 
riving  at  the  depot  of  the  Cleveland,  Columbus,  and 
Cincinnati  Railroad,  it  took  a  train  of  cars  for  Camp 
Dennison,  where  it  arrived  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
next  day.  Here  they  were  totally  unprepared  to  re 
ceive  it,  no  barracks  having  been  erected,  although 
one  hundred  men  had  been  sent  there  for  that  pur 
pose  several  days  previous.  The  ground  was  per- 


22  THE     SEVENTH   EEGIMENT: 

fectly  saturated  with  water  from  a  three  days'  rain, 
and  the  camp  in  what  had  been  a  cornfield.  But 
notwithstanding  these  difficulties,  by  sunset  the  regi 
ment  had  constructed  barracks,  and  were  compara 
tively  comfortable.  In  a  few  days  the  companies 
began  to  drill  in  earnest,  and  their  advancement  was 
correspondingly  rapid. 

On  the  llth  day  of  May  the  regiment  was  ordered 
to  elect,  by  ballot,  three  field-officers.  The  candidates 
for  colonel  were,  E.  B.  Tyler,  of  Ravenna,  a  former 
brigadier  of  militia,  and  James  A.  Garfield.  The 
former  was  elected.  Garfield  afterwards  became 
colonel  of  the  Forty-second  regiment,  and,  in  com 
mand  of  a  brigade,  defeated  Humphrey  Marshall  in 
Kentucky,  for  which  he  was  given  a  star.  Captain 
"W.  R.  Creighton  was  elected  lieutenant-colonel,  and 
J.  S.  Casement,  of  Painesville,  major. 

On  the  13th  day  of  May,  the  President  having 
issued  a  call  for  42,032  volunteers  for  three  years,  a 
meeting  was  held  in  the  Seventh  Regiment,  when  all 
but  one  of  the  officers  were  in  favor  of  organizing 
under  this  call.  The  subject  being  brought  before 
the  regiment  on  the  following  day,  about  three- 
fourths  of  the  command  enlisted  for  the  three  years' 
service.  Recruiting  officers  were  sent  home,  and  by 
the  middle  of  June  the  regiment  was  full.  It  was 
mustered  into  the  three  years'  service  on  the  19th 
and  20th  of  June. 


A    EECOED.  23 

The  companies  were  officered  as  follows :  Company 
A,  O.  J.  Crane,  captain ;  A.  C.  Burgess,  first-lieu 
tenant;  D.  A.  Kimball,  second-lieutenant.  Com 
pany  B,  James  T.  Sterling,  captain;  Joseph  B. 
Molyneaux,  first-lieutenant;  H.  Z.  Eaton,  second- 
lieutenant.  Company  C,  Giles  W.  Shurtliff,  cap 
tain  ;  Judson  ]ST.  Cross,  first-lieutenant ;  E.  Hudson 
Baker,  second-lieutenant.  Company  D,  John  N. 
Dyer,  captain;  Charles  A.  Weed,  first-lieutenant; 
A.  J.  Williams,  second-lieutenant.  Company  E, 
John  W.  Sprague,  captain ;  Arthur  T.  Wilcox,  first- 
lieutenant;  Ralph  Lockwood,  second-lieutenant. 
Company  F,  D.  B.  Clayton,  captain;  John  B. 
Rouse,  first-lieutenant;  A.  C.  Day,  second-lieuten 
ant.  Company  G,  F.  A.  Seymour,  captain;  W.  H. 
Robinson,  first-lieutenant;  E.  S.  Quay,  second-lieu 
tenant.  Company  H,  Joel  F.  Asper,  captain ;  Geo. 
L.  Wood,  first-lieutenant ;  Halbert  B.  Case,  second- 
lieutenant.  Company  I,  W.  R.  Sterling,  captain ; 
Samuel  McClelland,  first-lieutenant;  E.  F.  Fitch, 
second-lieutenant.  Company  K,  John  F.  Schutte, 
captain;  Oscar  W.  Sterl,  first-lieutenant;  C.  A. 
]STitchelm,  second-lieutenant.  H.  K.  Gushing  was 

'  O 

appointed  surgeon,  and  F.  Salter  assistant  surgeon. 
John  Morris  was  appointed  quartermaster,  Louis 
G.  De  Forest,  adjutant,  and  Rev.  F.  T.  Brown, 
chaplain. 

Camp  Dennison  was  well  calculated  for  a  camp  of 


24  THE    SEVENTH    KEGIMENT: 

instruction.  It  is  separated  into  two  parts  by  the 
track  of  the  Little  Miami  Railroad,  while  the  river  of 
the  same  name  flows  along  its  border.  It  is  situated 
between  sloping  hills  of  some  magnitude,  in  a 
slightly  undulating  valley.  In  summer  it  is  beauti 
ful;  in  winter,  gloomy. 

Soon  after  being  mustered  into  service,  the  regi 
ment  was  reviewed  by  George  B.  McClellan,  then 
major-general  of  Ohio  militia,  commanding  the  De 
partment  of  the  Ohio.  Immediately  after,  we  were 
ordered  to  join  his  forces  in  the  field. 

Accordingly,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  26th  of  June, 
the  regiment  took  the  cars  for  Columbus,  Ohio,  un 
der  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Creighton,  Col 
onel  Tyler  having  gone  in  advance.  Arriving  in 
Columbus  late  at  night,  it  was  transferred  to  the 
Central  Ohio  Railroad,  arriving  at  Bell  air  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  succeeding  day.  It  was  immedi 
ately  ordered  across  the  river  to  Ben  wood,  a  small 
station  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  a  few 
miles  below  Wheeling.  Here  the  regiment  was,  for 
the  first  time,  supplied  with  ammunition.  It  en 
camped  on  the  common,  after  the  pieces  were  loaded. 
Much  fatigued  by  their  long  ride,  the  men  threw 
themselves  upon  the  hard  ground,  and  were  soon 
enjoying  a  sound  sleep. 

In   the  mean  time  Major  Casement  was   super 
intending  the  transportation  of  the   baggage  and 


A    RECORD.  25 

supplies  across  the  river  to  a  train  of  cars  in 
waiting. 

Here  and  there  the  dusky  forms  of  men  were 
seen  grouped  over  the  fires,  which  were  dimly  burn 
ing,  discussing  the  stories  which  were  floating  about 
camp,  with  no  apparent  starting  place,  of  am 
buscades,  masked  batteries,  and  other  concealed 
horrors. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  28th  of  June,  three 
trains  of  cars  were  slowly  conveying  the  regiment 
into  the  wilds  of  Western  Virginia,  where  war,  in 
its  madness,  was  to  confront  it. 

It  arrived  at  Grafton  early  in  the  afternoon,  and 
taking  the  Parkersburg  branch  of  the  railroad,  it  ar 
rived  at  Clarksburg  before  the  close  of  the  day,  and 
encamped  in  the  outskirts  of  the  village.  The  entire 
regiment  occupied  tents,  which  were  looked  upon 
with  much  more  favor  than  densely  crowded  bar 
racks. 

"While  encamped  at  this  place,  a  stand  of  colors 
was  presented  to  the  regiment,  the  gift  of  the  Turn 
ers,  a  society  of  Germans  in  Cleveland. 

Near  thirty  miles  from  the  village  of  Clarksburg 
is  the  small  hamlet  of  Weston,  then  a  notorious 
haunt  for  rebels.  In  the  place  was  a  bank,  in  which 
the  deposits,  to  the  amount  of  about  thirty  thousand 
dollars,  still  remained.  The  authorities  were  de 
sirous  of  procuring  this  treasure.  The  undertaking 


26  THE    SEVENTH    EEGIMENT  I 

was  intrusted  to  the  Seventh.  It  was  proposed  to 
surprise  the  town  early  in  the  morning,  before  any 
one  was  astir  to  give  the  alarm. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  last  day  of  June,  the  regi 
ment  wound  its  way  through  the  village,  across  the 
river,  on  to  what  is  called  the  Clarksburg  pike, 
leading  to  Weston.  The  day  was  intensely  hot, 
and  the  men  entirely  unused  to  marching.  At  sun 
set  but  little  distance  had  been  made,  and  all  were 
much  fatigued,  but  still  the  gallant  band  pressed 
onward.  Weary  and  footsore,  it  moved  on  till  day 
light,  when  some  considerable  distance  intervened 
between  it  and  the  village.  Men  were  beginning 
to  fall  out  by  the  wayside,  unable  to  proceed  fur 
ther.  At  this  unfortunate  moment  the  river  ap 
peared  in  view,  which  makes  a  bend  to  the  road, 
about  a  mile  from  Weston.  On  the  opposite  side 
of  the  road  was  a  gradual  slope  of  cultivated  land, 
with  here  and  there  a  clump  of  trees.  From  be 
hind  one  of  these  a  man  was  seen  to  emerge,  and 
being  taken  for  one  of  the  enemy's  scouts,  the  com 
mand  was  given  to  "  fire,"  when  several  pieces 
were  discharged,  without  injury,  however,  to  the 
object  of  their  aim.  A  double-quick  was  now  or 
dered,  when  the  men,  unable  to  proceed  with  their 
knapsacks,  scattered  them  along  the  road. 

Arriving  at  the  town  the  right  wing  made  a  detour 
to  the  left,  while  the  left  wing  made  a  similar  one  to 


A    BECOBD.  27 

right,  deploying  as  they  went.  In  this  manner  the 
village  was  entirely  surrounded.  The  first  intima 
tion  the  citizens  had  of  the  presence  of  the  military 
was  the  playing  of  the  fi  Star  Spangled  Banner  "  by 
the  band  stationed  in  the  park.  A  guard  was  placed 
over  the  bank,  and  a  member  of  the  regiment  de 
tailed  to  look  to  the  business. 

The  Union  citizens  were  overjoyed  at  the  presence 
of  the  Federal  forces.  They  prepared  a  breakfast 
for  the  entire  regiment,  and  other  charitable  acts, 
which  attested  their  devotion  to  the  Union  causa 
The  regiment  encamped  on  the  bank  of  the  river, 
near  the  cemetery. 

During  the  first  days  of  our  stay  at  "Weston  many 
arrests  were  made  of 'disloyal  citizens,  a  few  of  whom 
were  sent  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  to  await  the  action  of 
the  Federal  Government. 

At  this  time  a  small  force,  under  command  of 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Pond,  of  the  Seventeenth  Ohio 
Volunteers,  was  besieged  at  Glenville,  a  small  village 
on  the  banks  of  the  Little  Kanawha,  by  a  superior 
force  of  rebels,  under  command  of  Major  Patton,  as 
sisted  by  Captain  O.  Jennings  Wise.  Companies  H 
and  B  were  sent  to  his  relief.  After  a  fatiguing 
march  of  two  days  and  one  night  they  opened  com 
munication  with  Colonel  Pond,  the  rebels  withdraw 
ing  at  their  approach. 

Six  more  companies  of  the  regiment  arrived  at 


28  THE    SEVENTH    KEGIMENT: 

Glenville  on  the  following  day,  Colonel  Tyler  being 
fearful  that  the  first  detachment  might  meet  with  a 
reverse.  Several  other  regiments  arrived  . about  the 
same  time,  but  left  soon  after. 

During  the  stay  of  the  regiment  at  this  place, 
many  scouting  expeditions  were  sent  out ;  on  which 
occasions  many  dangers  and  hardships  were  encoun 
tered. 

Just  before  our  arrival  at  Glenville,  a  Union  lady 
rode  in  the  saddle  through  the  rebel  camp,  with  the 
stars  and  stripes  in  one  hand  and  a  pistol  in  the 
other,  while  she  defied  the  rebel  host.  Being  pur 
sued,  she  sought  refuge  in  our  camp,  and  finally  ac 
companied  the  advance  of  our  forces  to  her  home, 
with  the  proud  satisfaction  of  seeing  the  old  banner 
once  more  planted  on  her  native  soil.  During  the 
progress  of  the  war  she  had  suffered  many  perils. 
At  one  time  she  went  to  visit  her  brother,  who  was 
concealed  in  the  woods,  for  the  purpose  of  giving 
him  food,  when  she  was  challenged  by  a  rebel  picket. 
She  wheeled  her  horse,  and,  by  hard  riding,  escaped, 
the  rebel  bullets  passing  harmlessly  over  her  head. 

Private  Adams,  of  Company  C,  was  wounded 
while  on  picket,  being  the  first  casualty  in  the  regi 
ment  produced  by  the  enemy.  About  the  same  time 
Captain  Shurtliff  had  a  horse  shot  from  under  him, 
while  riding  in  the  vicinity  of  the  camp,  and  within 
the  Federal  lines. 


A    RECORD.  29 

Some  difficulty  was  experienced  at  this  place  in 
procuring  supplies.  The  regiment  was  fed  for  some 
time  on  corn  meal  and  fresh  beef.  A  mill,  however, 
was  soon  set  in  operation,  and  supplies  of  flour  and 
meal  were  furnished  in  abundance. 


30  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT  : 


CHAPTEK  in. 

THE  PURSUIT  OP  GENERAL  WISE.— TYLEB  ORDERED  TO  MENACE 
GAULEY  BRIDGE  AND  THREATEN  WISE'S   COMMUNICATIONS. 

ON  the  llth  day  of  July  General  Rosecrans,  by 
order  of  General  McClellan,  marched  his  brigade 
eight  miles  through  a  mountain-path  to  the  rear  of 
the  rebel  force,  occupying  the  crest  of  Rich  Moun 
tain,  commanded  by  Colonel  Pegram.  This  move 
ment  resulted  in  the  fighting  of  the  battle  of  that 
name.  The  rebels  were  completely  defeated,  and 
made  a  precipitate  retreat  towards  Carrick's  Ford, 
where,  on  the  13th,  they  were  again  routed,  with  the 
loss  of  their  general. 

In  the  mean  time  the  rebel  General  Wise  had  oc 
cupied  the  Kanawha  Valley,  with  a  few  regular 
troops  and  a  considerable  force  of  militia. 

The  advance  of  this  force  extended  as  far  down 
the  river  as  Buffalo,  while  numerous  incursions  were 
made  by  the  rebel  cavalry  in  the  vicinity  of  Point 
Pleasant,  a  village  situated  at  the  junction  of  the 
Kanawha  with  the  Ohio  River. 

To  oppose  this  force  General  Cox  was  sent  with  a 


A    RECORD.  31 

brigade  of  Ohio  troops.  His  main  force  passed  up 
the  river  in  boats,  while  a  sufficient  force  was  kept 
on  each  flank  to  prevent  surprise. 

General  Wise  gradually  retired  at  the  advance  of 
this  force  until,  arriving  on  the  banks  of  Scarey 
Creek,  he  threw  up  some  breastworks,  and  awaited 
the  approach  of  the  Union  troops. 

While  these  movements  were  being  executed  in 
the  valley,  Colonel  Tyler  was  ordered  to  advance 
with  a  brigade  by  the  way  of  Button,  to  menace 
Gauley  Bridge,  and  threaten  Wise's  communications. 

On  the  22d  of  July  the  Seventh  Regiment  moved 
out  of  Glenville,  on  what  is  called  the  Braxton  road, 
towards  Bulltown,  where  it  was  to  be  joined  by  Colo 
nel  Tyler  with  the  Seventeenth  Ohio,  two  companies 
of  the  First  Virginia,  with  Captain  Mack's  battery, 
United  States  Artillery,  and  Captain  Snyder's  sec 
tion  of  twelve-pounders,  making  a  force  of  fifteen 
hundred. 

We  arrived  at  Bulltown  in  the  evening  of  the 
next  day,  meeting  with  no  resistance  from  the 
rebels,  who  were  scattered  in  small  parties  through 
this  entire  region  of  country.  We  had  expected  to 
meet  with  opposition  at  the  ford,  on  the  Little  Kan- 
awha,  some  twenty  miles  from  Glenville,  but  with 
the  exception  of  a  small  band  of  guerillas,  who 
were  very  careful  to  keep  the  river  between  our 
selves  and  them,  we  saw  no  rebels. 


32  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

It  was  not  until  the  evening  of  the  25th  that  we 
broke  camp,  and  then  to  cross  a  range  of  hills  only, 
into  the  valley  of  the  Elk,  where  we  remained  until 
the  27th  of  July. 

At  this  camp  we  learned  of  a  rebel  force  at  Flat 
Woods,  distant  six  miles,  in  the  direction  of  Button. 
On  the  27th  we  moved  out,  in  a  heavy  rain,  to 
attack  their  camp,  but  at  our  approach  they  fled  in 
dismay. 

"We  remained  at  Flat  Woods  till  the  following 
Sunday,  when  we  moved  on  to  Sutton,  a  distance  of 
ten  miles. 

Sutton,  the  county-seat  of  Braxton  County,  is 
situated  at  the  base  of  a  high  range  of  hills,  on  the 
right  bank  of  the  Elk  River.  The  river  is  crossed 
by  a  suspension  bridge.  Back  of  the  village,  and 
about  two  hundred  feet  above  it,  is  a  fine  table 
land,  with  a  range  of  hills  for  a  back  ground.  This 
table  land  was  to  be  approached  only  by  a  narrow 
defile  fronting  the  river,  which  was  easily  defended  ; 
for  a  battery  properly  planted  would  command 
every  approach  for  a  mile  around  ;  besides,  the 
enemy  would  have  to  cross  the  Elk  River  under 
fire.  Nature  had  made  the  position  a  strong 
one. 

The  command,  now  swelled  to  about  two  thou 
sand,  encamped  on  this  table  land,  with  the  two 
companies  of  the  First  Virginia,  and  Mack's  Bat- 


A    BECOKD.  33 

teiy  thrown  forward  across  the  river,  to  keep  open 
the  road  in  front. 

The  command  at  once  proceeded  to  erect  fortifi 
cations,  Captain  Asper  being  sent  to  the  front  of 
Captain  Mack's  position  on  the  Summerville  pike, 
with  instructions  to  select  a  proper  position,  after 
which  to  erect  a  fortification  commanding  the  road. 
Finding  a  point  where  the  road  makes  a  sharp  angle, 
the  captain  constructed  the  work,  which,  although 
of  no  account  during  the  stay  of  the  regiment  at 
Sutton,  afterwards  proved  a  good  point  of  defence, 
when  the  weak  garrison  stationed  there  was  at 
tacked. 

The  second  day  of  August,  the  regiment  left 
Sutton,  and  crossing  the  river  again  advanced 
towards  Gauley  Bridge.  The  day  was  one  of  the 
hottest,  which,  added  to  the  hilly  nature  of  the 
country,  made  the  advance  difficult.  Both  officers 
and  men  fell  out  of  the  line,  unable  to  proceed, 
being  so  oppressed  by  the  heat,  and  wearied  by  the 
difficult  state  of  the  roads.  At  night  we  had 
crossed  but  one  range  of  hills,  and  found  ourselves 
in  the  valley  of  the  Little  Birch  River,  at  the  foot 
of  Birch  Mountain. 

The  following  morning  we  again  took  up  the  line 
of  march,  reaching  the  Great  Birch  River  at  early 
twilight,  having  made  but  a  few  miles  during  the 

day. 

2* 


34  THE    SEVENTH    BEGIMENTI 

In  the  afternoon  we  were  joined  by  our  chaplain, 
who,  when  we  were  at  Glenville,  volunteered  to 
make  his  way  across  the  country  with  a  message  to 
General  Cox.  And  now,  after  an  absence  of  more 
than  two  weeks,  on  a  perilous  message,  he  was  again 
with  us,  as  fresh  and  light-hearted  as  when  he  left 
for  his  daring  enterprise.  He  joined  us  by  the  way 
of  Gauley  Bridge,  having  been  the  first  to  make 
the  trip.  Alone,  through  a  country  infested  by 
murderous  bands  of  guerrillas  and  outlaws,  he  trav 
eled  more  than  a  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  Before 
such  deeds  of  individual  heroism,  all  but  the  grand 
eur  and  magnitude  of  large  battles  fade  into  ob 
scurity.  In  such  single  exploits  there  is  a  stern, 
silent  daring,  that  obscures  the  maddened  bravery 
of  a  battle-field. 

From  our  chaplain  we  learned  that  General  Wise 
had  left  the  valley,  burning  the  bridge  over  the 
Gauley  River,  after  crossing  his  command.  He 
had  become  frightened  and  fled.  And  thus  the 
rebel  general,  who  at  Charleston  had  said :  "  By 
G — ,  the  stars  and  stripes  shall  never  wave  over  this 
town  again ;"  on  the  Wednesday  following  ex 
claimed  :  "  The  enemy  are  on  us,  why  the  h — 11 
don't  you  pack  my  wagon,"  and,  taking  counsel  of 
his  fears,  fled  in  dismay. 

But  let  us  return  to  the  Seventh  Regiment,  which 
we  left  at  its  camp  near  the  Big  Birch  River. 


A    EECOED.  35 

On  the  morning  of  August  6,  we  broke  camp, 
and  taking  a  mountain  road  arrived  at  Summerville 
on  the  following  Wednesday,  and  encamped  on. 
Addison  Hill. 

The  country  about  Summerville  is  beautiful  ill 
the  extreme.  It  is  slightly  undulating,  having 
more  the  appearance  of  an  open  country,  or  in 
some  respects  a  prairie,  than  of  a  valley  between 
two  very  high  ridges.  It  is  sufficiently  rolling  to 
hide  the  mountains  which  separate  the  Gauley  from 
the  Elk  Eiver. 

At  our  former  camp  we  were  surrounded  by  very 
high,  precipitous  mountains,  with  large  rocks  pro 
jecting  from  their  summits.  After  passing  over 
Powell  Mountain,  we  came  into  the  valley  of  the 
Gauley,  and  after  marching  a  short  distance,  en 
tirely  lost  sight  of  these  mountains,  over  whose 
rocky  crests  we  had,  but  a  short  time  before,  pur 
sued  our  slow  and  weary  way. 

The  contrast  between  this  camp  and  the  one  at 
Big  Birch  was  striking.  Here  we  were  reminded 
of  Ohio,  our  native  State,  the  one  which  had  more 
attractions  for  us  than  any  other ;  while  at  the  latter 
camp  we  were  constantly  reminded  of  some  lonely 
country,  described  only  by  the  novelist,  and  in 
habited  alone  by  robbers  and  outlaws.  And  yet, 
upon  this  mountain  region,  nature  was  lavish  with 
her  charms.  The  scenery  is  grand  beyond  descrip- 

I 


36  THE     SEVENTH    BEGIMENT! 

tion.  Peak  after  peak  rises,  one  above  another, 
until  the  tired  eye  grows  dim  in  its  endeavor  to 
trace  the  outlines  of  the  distant  mountain,  and  seeks 
the  beautiful  valley,  wherein  to  restore  its  lost 
vision. 

From  the  top  of  Powell's  Mountain,  the  beauty 
of  the  scenery  is  lost  sight  of  in  its  magnificence. 
This  mountain  is  the  highest  in  Western  Virginia, 
and  commands  the  finest  view.  The  first  time  I 
ascended  it  was  on  horseback.  "When  near  the  top 
we  struck  into  a  bridle  path,  and,  urging  our  horses' 
into  a  gallop,  we  were  soon  at  the  base  of  the  pro 
jecting  rocks.  Below,  a  lovely  panorama  was  open 
to  our  view.  The  side  of  the  mountain,  as  well  as 
the  distant  valley,  seemed  covered  with  a  carpet  of 
green,  for  both  were  densely  wooded,  and  in  the 
distance  the  foliage  seemed  to  blend  with  the  earth. 
We  could  see  far  away  into  the  smaller  valleys,  and 
from  them-  trace  the  ravines,  in  which  the  small 
rivulets  make  their  merry  descent  from  the  side  of 
the  mountain. 

At  last,  tired  of  gazing  at  this  beautiful  spot  in 
nature's  varied  scenery,  we  again  urged  our  horses 
forward,  and,  after  partially  winding  around  the 
mountain,  we  were  at  the  very  summit  of  this  mass 
of  earth,  rocks,  and  herbage.  We  now  obtained  a 
view  of  the  opposite  side  of  the  mountain  from 
which  we  had  ascended,  where  beauty  expands  into 


A    EECOED.  37 

sublimity.  We  could  plainly  trace  the  course  of 
the  Kanawha  River,  as  on  its  banks  the  mountains 
rise  higher,  and  are  more  abrupt,  while  beyond 
they  lessen  into  hills,  and  the  hills  waste  into  a 
valley.  On  the  side  of  the  distant  hills  we  could 
see  an  occasional  farm,  with  its  fields  of  golden 
grain  ready  for  the  harvest.  On  the  very  top  of 
this  mountain  was  living  a  family. 

Notwithstanding  their  great  height,  these  moun 
tains  seemed  fertile ;  and  the  farms  are  apparently 
as  good  as  those  in  the  valley.  Springs  frequently 
make  their  way  out  of  the  rocks  by  the  roadside. 
Water  is  abundant  in  any  part  of  these  mountains, 
and  springs  more  common  than  in  the  valley. 

Near  the  top  of  Powell's  Mountain,  in  a  kind  of 
basin,  is  a  very  fine  farm.  It  is  well  watered,  and 
well  timbered,  and  quite  fertile.  The  owner  lives 
and  flourishes  in  this  quiet  home,  and,  I  should  say, 
is  quite  as  happy  as  if  in  a  city.  He  has  become 
accustomed  to  the  loneliness  of  his  mountain  retreat. 
The  wild  scenery  has  become  familiar — its  very 
wildness  has  a  charm.  He  is  content  with  two 
visits  each  year  to  the  distant  settlement.  It  is 
literally  true  that  "  home  is  where  the  heart  is." 

Although  this  country  was  well  supplied  with 
provisions  of  every  kind,  we  were  not  allowed  to 
appropriate  any  of  it.  The  property  of  rebels  was 
considered  sacred.  The  authorities  were  confident 


38  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

of  putting  down  the  rebellion  through  clemency, 
and,  therefore,  were  both  ready  and  willing  to  put 
our  soldiers  upon  half  rations,  rather  than  incur  the 
ill-will  of  traitors.  When  prisoners  were  captured, 
they  had  what  was  called  an  oath  of  allegiance 
administered  to  them,  when  they  were  liberated,  to 
again  rob  and  plunder.  Occasionally  we  captured 
a  horse,  but  it  was  invariably  given  up,  on  the 
owner  taking  this  oath  of  allegiance.  In  view  of 
this  moderate  method  of  dealing  with  them,  they 
risked  nothing  in  prowling  about  our  lines,  for  they 
knew  that  they  had  only  to  take  this  oath  to  procure 
an  honorable  discharge  ;  while  the  soldiers  of  the 
Federal  army,  if  they  stole  but  an  onion  to  make  a 
piece  of  hard  bread  palatable,  were  subjected  to 
the  severest  punishments.  Experience  has  finally 
taught  us,  that  hard  blows  alone  will  conquer  a  re 
bellion,  and  that  to  reduce  a  foe,  starvation  is  quite 
as  good  as  the  bayonet. 

I  do  not  know  that  any  one  was  criminal  in  this 
early  practice  of  clemency  towards  rebels  ;  it  seemed 
rather  to  be  a  sort  of  national  weakness,  growing 
out  of  the  universal  opinion  that  the  rebellion  was, 
at  the  greatest,  but  a  weak  effort  of  a  deluded 
people  ;  and  that  kindness,  connected  with  a  show 
of  strength,  rather  than  its  exercise,  would  induce 
them  to  return  to  their  former  allegiance.  It  seems 
to  be,  at  this  day,  of  little  consequence  why  this 


A    RECORD.  39 

practice  prevailed,  or  who  was  responsible  for  it, 
as  it  lias  almost  entirely  ceased. 

On  the  llth  day  of  August,  Captain  John  "W. 
Sprague  was  given  a  leave  of  absence,  to  go  to  his 
home,  and  was  intrusted  with  dispatches  to  General 
Rosecrans.  He  was  to  proceed  by  the  way  of 
Button  and  Clarksburg.  When  near  the  Big 
Birch  River  he  was  suddenly  confronted  by  a  band 
of  rebel  cavalry,  belonging  to  Colonel  Croghan's 
Second  Georgia  Regiment,  who  was  not  far  from 
the  spot,  with  his  entire  command.  The  mail 
carrier  and  two  dragoons,  who  accompanied  Captain 
Sprague,  attempted  to  make  their  escape ;  only  one, 
however,  was  successful ;  the  mail  carrier  receiving 
a  mortal  wound  in  the  attempt. 

Securing  their  prisoners,  the  rebel  cavalry  crossed 
the  Gauley  River,  and  were  soon  out  of  reach  of 
the  Federal  forces.  An  unsuccessful  attempt  was 
made  to  rescue  the  captors ;  but  infantry,  of  course, 
could  make  but  a  fruitless  attempt  at  recapturing 
prisoners  in  the  hands  of  well-mounted  cavalry. 

This  occurrence  spread  a  gloom  over  the  entire 
camp.  One  of  the  best  officers  of  the  regiment 
had  been  captured  almost  within  our  lines,  and 
borne  away  to  a  Southern  prison,  to  endure  the 
privations  of  prison  life,  with  the  fond  anticipation 
of  seeing  home  and  friends  blighted  and  withered. 
To  be  lost  to  one's  country,  within  the  prison  walls 


40  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

of  her  enemies,  when  the  arm  of  every  true  patriot 
is  needed  in  her  defence,  is  a  sad  fate. 

I  am  not  inclined  to  blame  any  one  for  this  un 
fortunate  occurrence,  though  it  may  occur  to  the 
mind  of  the  reader  that  good  generalship  would  re 
quire  that  the  commandant  of  a  body  of  troops,  in 
the  heart  of  an  enemy's  country,  should  know 
whether  or  not  the  cavalry  of  that  enemy  was 
hanging  on  his  flank  and  rear.  And  then,  again,  it 
may  be  urged  with  truth  that  the  command  was 
almost  entirely  without  cavalry,  though  it  was  fur 
nished  with  one  company,  as  well  as  one  of  Snake 
Hunters,  as  they  were  called.  The  legitimate  busi 
ness  in  the  army  of  the  latter  was  scouting.  They 
had  no  other  duty  to  perform. 

But  however  these  facts  may  be,  yet  true  it  is 
that  a  regiment  of  the  enemy's  regular  cavalry  was 
not  only  hanging  on  the  flank  of  our  column,  but 
occupied  our  rear — thus  severing  our  communica 
tions,  and  cutting  off  our  supplies. 

On  the  15th  day  of  August  we  again  moved  for 
ward,  after  first  sending  a  company  down  to  Hugh's 
Ferry.  We  proceeded  through  a  densely  wooded 
country,  abounding- in -laurel  and  pau-pau,  arriving 
at  Cross  Lanes,  two  and  a  half  miles  from  Carnifex 
Ferry,  on  the  Gauley  River,  in  time  to  prepare  our 
camp  before  night. 

Soon  after  our  arrival  Captain  Schutte,  of  Com- 


A    RECORD.  41 

pany  K,  was  on  picket  duty  at  Carnifex  Ferry. 
During  the  day  the  captain,  for  some  unknown 
reason,  conceived  the  idea  of  a  scout  across  the 
river.  Selecting  fourteen  of  his  men,  he  crossed 
over  to  the  opposite  bank,  and,  taking  the  main 
road,  immediately  pushed  into  the  country.  The 
march  was  made,  apparently,  without  any  appre 
hension  of  the  presence  of  an  enemy  ;  at  least,  no 
steps  appear  to  have  been  taken  to  prevent  a  sur 
prise.  All  went  well,  however,  until  the  party  had 
made  a  distance  of  several  miles,  when,  the  first  in 
timation  they  had  of  danger,  they  were  fired  upon 
by  a  party  of  cavalry,  concealed  in  an  adjacent 
thicket,  and  all  but  four  of  the  party  killed  or 
wounded — Captain  Schutte  being  wounded  mor 
tally.  The  survivors  conveyed  him  to  an  old  build 
ing,  and,  at  his  own  request,  left  him.  He  expired 
soon  after,  and  was  buried  on  the  spot  by  the  rebels. 
The  four  men  fled  towards  the  river,  and,  being  pur 
sued,  took  to  the  woods.  One,  being  separated 
from  his  companions,  was  pursued  to  the  bank  of 
the  river,  and  was  only  saved  by  throwing  himself 
into  the  stream  from  the  projecting  rocks.  He  con 
cealed  his  body  under  water,  keeping  sufficient  of 
his  face  above  to  sustain  life.  He  could  plainly 
distinguish  the  conversation  of  the  rebels,  and 
knew  by  it  that  they  were  in  search  of  him.  Here 
he  remained  during  the  day,  and  at  night  dragged 


42  THE    SEVENTH    KEGIMENT: 

himself  upon  the  rocks.  The  next  morning,  tired 
and  hungry,  he  floated  himself  down  stream  by 
clinging  to  the  almost  perpendicular  rocks,  until, 
arriving  opposite  a  house,  he  was  hailed  by  a 
woman,  to  whom  he  made  known  his  condition. 
She  immediately  unfastened  a  canoe,  and,  paddling 
directly  across  the  river  to  where  he  was  lying,  half 
famished  in  the  water,  helped  him  over  its  sides, 
and  conveyed  him  to  the  other  shore.  Before  they 
landed,  however,  the  rebels  discovered  them,  and 
gave  the  order  to  "  halt."  It  not  being  obeyed, 
they  fired,  the  bullets  sinking  harmlessly  into  the 
water.  In  a  moment  the  two  were  lost  to  view  in 
the  pau-pau,  which  lined  the  river  bank.  The 
woman  guided  the  soldier  to  her  home,  where  she 
cared  for  him  during  a  short  illness,  which  suc 
ceeded  his  escape.  When  he  was  sufficiently  re 
covered  to  join  his  command,  he  found  the  regi 
ment  had  abandoned  Cross  Lanes,  which  had  been 
occupied  by  the  rebel  forces.  He  returned  to  his 
former  retreat,  where  he  was  concealed  until  the 
day  of  the  disaster  to  the  Seventh,  when,  taking 
advantage  of  the  confusion  into  which  the  rebel 
forces  were  thrown  during  the  affair,  he  escaped 
towards  Gauley  Bridge,  which  place  he  reached  in 
safety  the  following  day. 


A    RECORD.  43 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  SBIEMISH  AT  CEOSS  LANES.— GALLANT  CONDUCT  AND  FINAL 
ESCAPE  OF  THE  SEVENTH  B.EGIMENT. 

THE  occupation  of  Cross  Lanes  was  considered 
by  the  authorities  of  the  gravest  importance.  It 
was  contiguous  to  three  fords  on  the  Gauley  River, 
which,  when  possessed  by  the  Federal  forces,  was  a 
perfect  protection  to  the  left  of  the  army  occupying 
Gauley  Bridge.  Carnifex  Ferry  was  immediately 
south  two  and  one-half  miles.  There  was  a  road 
leading  from  the  vicinity  of  Gauley  Bridge,  on  the 
south  bank  of  the  Gauley  River,  which  unites  with 
the  Sunday  road,  crossing  the  river  at  this  ferry. 
This  road  afforded  the  enemy  a  means  of  gaining 
the  left  of  our  forces,  at  Gauley  Bridge.  The  occu 
pation  of  Cross  Lanes,  therefore,  by  the  enemy, 
would  sever  the  communication  between  our  forces 
at  the  above  point,  and  the  main  army  under 
Rosecrans,  occupying  the  country  from  the  Balti 
more  and  Ohio  Railroad,  along  Cheat  Mountain. 

Carnifex  Ferry,  was  a  point  easily  defended 
against  a  much  superior  force.  Indeed,  it  had  so 


44  THE     SEVENTH     EEGIMENT. 

many  natural  defences,  that  it  elicited  exclamations 
of  surprise  from  men  accustomed  to  the  selection  of 
places  for  defence.  The  current  of  the  river  was 
rapid,  while  the  abrupt  rocks  on  its  banks  afforded 
secure  hiding  places  for  a  considerable  body  of 
troops.  It  was  quite  impossible  to  bring  artillery 
to  bear  in  such  a  manner  on  the  position  as  to 
interfere  materially  wTith  troops  concealed  there. 
It  seems  to  be  the  opinion  of  most  persons  familiar 
with  the  place,  that  it  would  be  quite  impossible  to 
dislodge  a  body  of  troops  properly  posted  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  river  at  this  ferry,  provided  a 
stubborn  resistance  wras  made. 

It  was  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  the  crossing 
of  the  enemy  at  this  point  that  the  force  of  Colonel 
Tyler  was  ordered  to  Cross  Lanes.  By  keeping 
pickets  well  on  the  line  of  the  river,  to  watch  any 
advance  of  the  enemy,  the  regiment  was  entirely 
safe  at  its  camp,  from  which  it  was  comparatively 
easy  to  re-enforce  any  portion  of  the  line.  But  for 
some  reason,  the  commanding  officer  failed  to  visit 
the  ferry  in  person,  until  the  afternoon  of  the  day 
on  which  a  peremptory  order  was  received  to  report 
with  his  command  at  Gauley  Bridge.  Hitherto  he 
had  been  entirely  unable  to  give  correct  informa 
tion,  as  to  the  probability  of  his  being  able  to  hold 
the  ferry.  He  was  ordered  to  abandon  the  position, 
because  his  dispatches  were  such,  that  they  created 


AEECORD.  45 

an  uneasiness  in  the  minds  of  Generals  Rosecrans 
and  Cox,  as  to  the  propriety  of  trusting  him  to  hold 
so  important  a  position.  Here  was  the  fatal  mis 
take.  A  lesser  error  had  already  been  made,  in 
withdrawing  all  the  forces  from  Tyler,  other  than 
the  Seventh.  Had  these  forces  remained,  the  posi 
tion  would  probably  not  have  been  abandoned,  as 
all  would  have  felt  secure.  When  the  order  to 
withdraw  was  received,  the  commanding  officer 
regretted  it  as  much  as  any  one.  But  the  mischief 
was  already  done ;  the  order  was  imperative.  On 
that  evening,  Monday,  the  regiment  left  Cross 
Lanes  at  11  o'clock  p.  M.,  and  the  next  day,  by  noon, 
was  at  Twenty  Mile  Creek,  some  eight  miles  from 
Gauley  Bridge. 

On  the  Wednesday  morning  following,  Colonel 
Tyler  reported  in  person  to  General  Cox.  In  the 
mean  time,  the  general  having  become  satisfied 
that  Colonel  Tyler  could  be  trusted  to  hold  Cross 
Lanes,  and  being  confident  that  the  contemplated 
attack  of  the  enemy  on  Gauley  Bridge  had  been 
abandoned,  ordered  him  to  return  as  soon  as  the 
troops  were  rested,  expecting  him  to  start  back,  at 
least  the  next  morning.  But  Tyler  did  not  move. 
On  Friday  afternoon,  General  Cox,  on  learning 
that  he  had  not  moved,  was  much  excited,  and  said 
to  an  officer  present — 

"  He  must  move ;  he  must  move  at  once ;  it  is 


46  THE     SEVENTH     KEGIMENT: 

all  important  that  Cross  Lanes  be  held,  and  Floyd 
be  kept  on  the  other  side  of  the  river ;  ride 
back  to  camp  and  tell  him  from  me,  to  move  early 
in  the  morning,  and  with  speed,  to  secure  the, 
position" 

The  order  was  delivered  in  nearly  the  same 
language  as  given,  but  notwithstanding  its  direct 
ness,  he  did  not  move  till  noon  on  Saturday,  and 
then  made  a  distance  of  only  fourteen  miles,  over 
good  roads,  encamping  at  the  foot  of  Panther 
Mountain,  after  having  fallen  back  from  Peter's 
Creek,  on  learning  of  the  presence  of  the  enemy. 

On  arriving  in  camp,  a  dispatch  was  sent  to 
General  Cox,  representing  to  him  that  the  enemy 
were  in  force  in  front,  and  asking  instructions.  On 
Sunday  morning  at  about  3  o'clock,  a  courier 
arrived  with  an  order  from  General  Cox,  substan 
tially  as  follows  :  The  force  in  your  front  cannot 
be  as  large  as  you  estimate  it.  Advance  cautiously, 
feeling  your  way ;  if  the  enemy  is  too  strong,  fall 
back,  if  not,  occupy  Cross  Lanes  at  once,  as  it  is  of 
the  utmost  importance. 

About  nine  o'clock  Sunday  morning,  August  25th, 
the  regiment  moved  towards  Cross  Lanes,  casting 
lots  as  to  which  company  should  be  left  in  charge 
of  the  baggage.  It  fell  upon  Company  F,  which 
was  temporarily  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Kim- 
ball.  The  entire  day  was  occupied  in  reaching 


A     BE  CORD.  4 

Cross  Lanes.  It  was  not  until  dark  of  that  day 
that  the  regiment  went  into  camp. 

In  the  days'  advance  some  slight  skirmishing  oc 
curred  with  the  enemy's  cavalry  videttes,  but  be 
yond  these  few  horsemen  no  enemy  was  encoun 
tered,  the  regiment  encamping  in  apparent  security 
near  the  church,  after  having  driven  away  a  cavalry 
picket  of  the  enemy. 

Companies  were  sent  out  on  picket,  as  follows : 
Company  A,  on  the  road  leading  to  Summerville ; 
Company  K,  on  the  road  leading  to  Carnifex  Ferry ; 
Company  C,  on  the  road  leading  in  the  opposite  di 
rection,  while  Company  E  was  sent  on  a  diagonal 
road  leading  to  a  ferry  some  distance  below  Carni 
fex.  The  balance  of  the  command  remained  near 
headquarters,  which  were  established  in  the  church. 

Each  company  on  picket  was  divided  into  three 
reliefs,  with  instructions  to  be  vigilant. 

The  silence  of  the  enemy,  together  with  his  neg 
lect  to  attack,  created  the  impression  that  he  had 
withdrawn  his  forces  to  the  other  side  of  the  river, 
fearing  that  this  small  force  was  but  the  advance  of 
a  well-equipped  army.  But  these  theories  were  des 
tined  to  fade  into  sadder  realities,  as  the  shadows  of 
night  melted  into  morning. 

Nothing  occurred  during  the  night  to  disturb  the 
general  repose.  A  short  time  before  day  fires  were 
kindled,  and  those  who  were  up  had  pieces  of  meat 


48  THE    SEVENTH    EEGIMENT: 

on  sticks,  which  they  were  roasting.  Some  had  ob 
tained  green  corn  during  the  night,  which  they 
were  also  roasting.  Before  day  had  fairly  dawned, 
the  command  was  almost  entirely  astir.  As  it  be 
came  sufficiently  light  to  distinguish  objects  at  a 
considerable  distance,  several  musket  shots  were 
heard  in  the  direction  of  the  river,  followed  in  quick 
succession  by  others.  It  soon  became  evident  that 
a  determined  attack  was  being  made  on  Company 
K.  About  this  time  a  column  of  rebels  wras  seen 
advancing  from  the  river  road,  across  the  fields,  to 
wards  Company  A's  position  on  the  Summerville 
road.  Arriving  in  the  vicinity  of  this  road,  the  col 
umn  halted,  formed  in  line  of  battle,  at  the  same 
time  swinging  round  its  right  to  the  Summerville 
road,  driving  Company  A  back  to  the  point  where 
the  roads  cross.  In  the  mean  time  Companies  B,  D, 
G,  H,  and  I  were  ordered  to  the  support  of  Com 
pany  K ;  but  on  arriving  at  the  cross  roads,  Compa 
ny  K  was  seen  falling  back  in  some  confusion,  be 
fore  a  superior  force,  therefore  they  remained  at 
that  point.  Meanwhile  a  heavy  fire  was  opened 
from  a  dense  wood  opposite  the  church,  to  resist 
which  Company  K,  having  been  joined  by  Compa 
nies  A  and  C,  which  had  advanced  to  its  support 
on  the  ferry  road,  took  position  on  a  hill  midway 
between  this  belt  of  timber  and  the  crossing  of  the 
roads.  From  this  point  these  companies  delivered 


A    BE  CO  ED.  49 

several  effective  volleys,  which  soon  drove  the  reb 
els  from  their  position.  Taking  advantage  of  this 
partial  check  of  the  enemy,  Captain  Crane  ordered 
a  charge,  which  resulted  in  piercing  the  lines,  and 
the  capture  of  a  stand  of  rebel  colors.  The  three 
companies  now  escaped,  with  a  loss,  however,  of 
Captain  Shurtliff,  Lieutenant  Wilcox,  and  Lieuten 
ant  Cross,  taken  prisoners,  the  latter  being  severely 
wounded  in  the  arm. 

During  this  time  the  rebel  column  from  the  di 
rection  of  Summerville  had  advanced  so  as  to  lap 
over  the  road  opposite  the  Ferry  road,  exposing  the 
companies  occupying  the  road  in  front  of  the 
church  to  an  enfilading  fire,  at  the  same  time  being 
exposed  to  a  severe  fire  from  the  front,  from  a  col 
umn  of  infantry  and  cavalry  coming  up  the  Ferry 
road.  These  companies  were  now  ordered  to  rally 
on  a  hill  near  the  church.  In  executing  this  move 
ment  Companies  D  and  H  passed  through  a  corn 
field,  exposed  to  a  deadly  fire  from  almost  every  di 
rection.  Soon  after  reaching  this  field  Captain 
Dyer,  Company  D,  fell  dead,  pierced  in  the 
heart  by  a  rifle  bullet.  Lieutenant  Weed  suc 
ceeded  him  in  command.  On  reaching  the  hill 
these  companies  attempted  to  rally,  but  being  in  an 
open  field,  combated  by  a  much  superior  and  par 
tially  hidden  foe,  were  compelled  to  fall  back  to  a 
piece  of  woods  skirting  the  road.  The  balance  of 

3 


50  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

the  command,  other  than  those  who  had  followed 
the  fortunes  of  Captain  Crane,  now  joined  them, 
and  soon  organized  for  a  systematic  retreat. 

Captain  Crane  and  his  followers,  after  putting 
some  distance  between  themselves  and  the  enemy, 
crossed  the  Gauley  road,  and  hastened  to  the 
mountains,  where  they  would  be  entirely  free  from 
the  attacks  of  cavalry,  and  where  they  would  have 
a  chance,  at  least,  of  partially  defending  themselves 
against  attack  from  the  rebel  infantry. 

Arriving  in  the  mountains,  they  took  a  direction* 
as  nearly  as  possible  towards  Gauley  Bridge,  where 
they  arrived  in  safety,  meeting  with  little  of  adven 
ture  on  the  way.  Thus  a  small  body  of  Federals 
had  fought  their  way  out  from  the  very  grasp  of 
the  enemy,  and,  eluding  pursuit,  traversed  a  moun 
tain  range,  with  no  guide,  over  rocks  and  deep 
gorges,  arriving  safely  within  the  Union  lines. 
Their  arrival,  however,  did  little  to  cheer  the  hearts 
of  those  in  camp,  for  they  were  a  small  body  com 
pared  with  those  still  unheard  from. 

The  news  of  the  sad  disaster  to  the  Seventh  had 
already  been  sent  to  the  friends  at  home ;  universal 
gloom  had  settled  over  the  camp,  and  the  prospect 
looked  dark  for  saving  the  organization,  even,  of  a 
regiment  which  was  the  pride  of  the  Western  Re 
serve. 

A   flag  of  truce  was  sent  to  Cross  Lanes  to  as- 


A    RECORD.  51 

certain,  if  possible,  the  fate  of  those  left  behind. 
Chaplain  Brown  arid  Surgeon  Gushing  were  se 
lected  to  undertake  this  enterprise.  They,  however, 
returned  without  having  accomplished  their  ob 
ject. 

One  dark,  rainy  night,  as  if  nature  was  in  sym 
pathy  with  the  feelings  of  those  in  camp,  the  band 
commenced  playing  a  patriotic  air  in  front  of  the 
colonel's  quarters,  accompanied  with  cheers.  I 
knew  that  this  indicated  good  news.  Hastening 
to  the  spot  I  learned  that  a  dispatch  had  just  ar 
rived  from  Charleston  with  the  comforting  news 
that  four  hundred  of  the  regiment  had  arrived  in 
safety  on  the  Elk  River,  twelve  miles  from  the 
above  place.  But  let  us  accompany  these  four 
hundred  heroes  in  their  march  from  the  battle 
field. 

Organizing  the  troops,  Major  Casement,  being 
first  in  rank,  Colonels  Tyler  and  Creighton  having 
already  escaped,  assumed  command.  Losing  no 
time  the  detachment  immediately  took  up  the  line 
of  march.  Avoiding  all  highways,  and  keeping 
well  in  the  timber,  they  moved  on  for  some  time, 
when,  considering  themselves  out  of  immediate 
danger,  they  ventured  out  to  the  road,  to  find  them 
selves  only  three  miles  from  the  place  of  starting. 
It  was  now  concluded  that  it  was  not  advisable 
to  attempt  reaching  Gauley  Bridge,  as  the  enemy 


52  THE    SEVENTH    KEGIMENT : 

would  be  likely  to  interpose  a  considerable  body 
of  troops  between  them  and  that  point.  It  was 
considered  to  be  more  practicable  to  make  in  the 
direction  of  Elk  River,  and  by  this  means  reach 
Charleston.  This  course  bemg  adopted,  the  com 
mand  crossed  the  road  and  took  to  the  mountains. 
Very  soon  after  a  party  of  rebel  cavalry  came  dash 
ing  down  as  if  in  pursuit,  barely  missing  the  object 
of  their  search. 

The  command,  aided  by  a  compass,  took  their 
course  over  the  mountains  in  a  direction  which* 
they  supposed  would  ultimately  lead  them  to  the 
banks  of  the  Elk  River. 

During  the  afternoon  Captain  W.  R.  Sterling 
procured  a  guide,  who  conducted  them  by  narrow 
pathways,  in  which  they  were  compelled  to  march 
single  file,  towards  a  house  which  was  situated  at 
some  distance  on  the  mountain.  Night  setting  in, 
before  reaching  the  spot,  without  even  a  star  visi 
ble  to  light  them  on  the  way,  the  column  halted, 
and  passed  the  word  back  for  a  candle.  The  line 
extended  for  nearly  half  a  mile,  and  it  was  not 
until  the  last  company,  H,  had  been  reached,  that 
one  was  procured.  On  its  arriving  at  the  front,  it 
was  discovered  that  the  head  of  the  column  had 
arrived  on  the  brink  of  a  deep  chasm,  into  which 
it  would  be  sure  death  to  plunge.  One  step  more, 
and  the  unlucky  leader  of  the  line  would  have  been 


A     KECOED.  53 

precipitated  into  the  dreadful  crater.  But  these 
daring  adventurers  were  spared  the  misfortune  of 
such  an  accident. 

Two  hours  of  valuable  time  having  been  lost,  the 
line  now  pressed  forward,  each  man  holding  on  to 
the  man  preceding  him.  About  midnight  the 
house  was  reached,  and  the  weary  band  laid 
themselves  down ;  not,  however,  to  sleep,  for  the 
only  provisions  they  had  had  during  the  day 
was  roasted  corn,  for  in  the  morning  they  were 
attacked  while  preparing  breakfast,  which  they 
were  compelled  to  abandon.  The  woman  of  the 
house  was  kept  cooking  the  good  old-fashioned 
corn-dodger,  and  by  morning  the  command  was 
tolerably  well  fed,  and  ready  for  the  toilsome  as 
well  as  hazardous  march  of  the  succeeding  day. 

As  the  day  again  dawned,  the  line  moved  on. 
Procuring  another  guide  during  the  day,  they  ar 
rived,  in  early  evening,  on  the  banks  of  the  Elk 
River,  without  any  adventure  wprth  relating.  Be 
fore  halting  they  forded  the  river,  which  was,  at  the 
time,  waist  deep.  Company  B  wras  sent  out  on 
picket,  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Molyneaux. 
The  instructions  were  to  establish  a  chain  of  pick 
ets,  at  short  intervals,  along  the  road  leading  up  the 
river.  In  case  of  an  attack,  the  outer  picket  to 
fire  and  fall  back  on  the  next,  when  another  volley 
was  to  be  delivered,  and  so  continue  until  the  camp 


54  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

should  be  finally  reached.  The  position  selected 
for  the  camp  was  at  the  base  of  a  range  of  abrupt 
hills,  which  were  not  accessible  to  cavalry,  while 
many  difficulties  would  present  themselves  in  the 
way  of  a  force  of  infantry  advancing  to  an  attack 
from  that  direction.  The  river  ran  at  the  very  foot 
of  these  hills,  too  deep  to  cross  in  the  face  of  an 
enemy,  and  sufficiently  wide  to  present  a  decided 
obstacle  in  the  way  of  an  attacking  party  on  the 
opposite  shore.  The  command  felt,  therefore,  com 
paratively  safe  in  this  retreat.  As  it  afterwards 
proved,  they  were  not  mistaken ;  for  it  was  ascer 
tained  that,  at  the  time  the  pickets  were  being  sta 
tioned,  seven  hundred  rebel  cavalry  were  a  short 
distance  up  the  river ;  indeed,  they  were  so  near 
that  a  party  of  rebel  officers  heard  the  lieutenant 
give  the  instructions  to  the  outer  picket.  One  of 
these  officers,  when  afterwards  taken  prisoner,  being 
questioned  by  Molyneaux  as  to  their  reason  for  not 
attacking,  remarked  that  it  would  have  been  quite 
impossible  for  them  to  reach  the  camp  in  case  his 
instructions  to  the  picket  should  be  carried  out ; 
and  he  and  his  brother-officers  agreed  in  the  opin 
ion,  that  the  orders  would  be  carried  out ;  for  no 
body  of  troops,  after  having  made  so  stubborn  a 
resistance  as  at  Cross  Lanes,  would  afterwards 
lose  all  by  a  want  of  vigilance  or  a  disobedience 
of  orders.  True  it  is  that  they  did  not  attack,  but 


A    RECOKD.  55 

suffered  the  camp  to  remain  quiet,  and  the  com 
mand  to  move  off  at  leisure  in  the  morning. 

A  dispatch  being  sent  to  Charleston,  on  the  fol 
lowing  day  a  provision-train  met  them  twelve -miles 
from  the  latter  place.  In  due  time  the  command 
arrived  at  Charleston,  weary  and  foot-sore  from 
their  long  and  toilsome  march. 


56  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT : 


CHAPTEE  Y. 

REFLECTIONS  ON  THE  SlQEMISH  AT  CfiOSS  LANES. — BATTLE  OF 
CARNIFEX  FEEEY. 

THE  occasion  for  the  affair  at  Cross  Lanes  was 
brought  about  by  a  series  of  blunders.  The  first 
blunder  was  committed  by  the  officer  who  ordered 
all  the  forces,  with  the  exception  of  the  Seventh 
Ohio,  from  a  position  which  enabled  them  to  guard 
the  ferries  of  the  Gauley.  If  it  was  deemed  im 
portant  to  hold  these  ferries  at  all,  it  was  certainly 
advisable  to  retain  a  sufficient  force  to  guard  against 
surprise  and  capture.  But  then,  what  would  be 
considered  a  sufficient  force  ?  To  settle  the  question, 
it  is  necessary  to  take  into  account  the  size  of  the 
army  occupying  the  country,  as  well  as  the  size  of 
that  of  the  enemy.  Neither  army  was  large,  and 
both  were  much  scattered,  scarcely  more  than  a 
brigade  occupying  one  position.  A  regiment,  there 
fore,  may  perhaps  be  considered  a  sufficient  force 
for  an  outpost. 

The  army  in  Western  Virginia  was  at  no  time 
sufficiently  large  to  accomplish  any  thing,  under  the 
best  generalship,  beyond  simply  holding  the  country, 


A    RECORD.  57 

and  preventing  invasion  ;  and  it  was  only  for  the 
want  of  a  moderately  sized  army  that  the  rebel 
general  failed  to  drive  back  our  forces.  But  the 
rebel  authorities  had  no  men  to  spare  for  the  pur 
pose  of  winning  barren  victories ;  so  the  armies  of 
Western  Virginia  were  left  to  watch  each  other, 
with  an  occasional  skirmish. 

At  the  time  the  affair  at  Cross  Lanes  took  place, 
our  army  occupied  a  front  of  many  miles,  as  did 
also  the  rebel  army.  It  was  quite  impossible  to 
collect,  in  case  of  emergency,  more  than  about  six 
thousand  men.  But,  however  it  may  be  as  to  the 
first  point,  it  is  clear,  secondly,  that  the  commanding 
officer  at  Cross  Lanes  committed  an  error  in  not 
making  a  personal  inspection  of  the  grounds,  adja 
cent  to  the  camp,  immediately  on  his  arrival.  It  is 
always  considered  highly  important  that  those  in 
command  should  know  precisely  the  ground  their 
commands  are  expected  to  defend,  and  not  to  trust 
to  chance  or  a  battle  to  develop  favorable  points  of 
defence  or  attack.  By  reason  of  this  want  of  know 
ledge,  rumors  as  to  the  presence  of  the  enemy  in 
force  created  uneasiness  and  alarm,  which  was  en 
tirely  natural,  although  without  cause.  While  in 
this  state  of  feeling,  the  commanding  officer  sent 
dispatches  to  Generals  Rosecrans  and  Cox,  which 
created  the  impression  that  their  author  was  not  to 

be  trusted  to  hold   these  ferries.     Those   generals 

3* 


58  THE    SEVENTH    EEGIMENTI 

pttributed  this  alarm  to  a  want  of  personal  courage, 
they  being  well  informed  as  to  the  strength  of  the 
position  at  Cross  Lanes.  It  was  not,  however,  a 
want  of  courage,  but  simply  a  failure  on  his  part  to 
understand  the  real  strength  of  the  position,  by  rea 
son  of  not  having  visited  it  in  person. 

When  the  order  to  withdraw  came,  Colonel  Tyler 
regretted  it  as  much  as  any  one;  for  he  had  that 
day  examined  the  position,  and  knew  that  he  could 
hold  it  against  any  force  the  enemy  could  bring  to 
the  attack.  But  this  knowledge  was  obtained  too 
late :  lying  on  his  table  was  a  positive  order  to 
withdraw.  Reason  said  hold  the  position  ;  military 
law,  which  was  higher  in  authority,  said  abandon 
it  ;  so  the  place  was  evacuated.  The  third  and 
irremediable  error  was  committed  in  not  returning 
to  Cross  Lanes  when  ordered.  If  that  had  been 
done,  the  consequences  resulting  from  the  with 
drawal  would  have  been  entirely  checked.  The 
order  to  return  was  given  on  Wednesday,  with  the 
expectation  that  it  would  be  acted  upon  as  soon  as 
Thursday  morning;  but  it  was  not  until  the  Sat 
urday  noon  following  that  the  command  started. 
There  was  no  reason  for  this  delay.  The  regiment 
had  marched  but  eighteen  miles  in  as  many  days, 
and  could,  without  any  injustice  being  done  it, 
have  returned  the  day  the  order  was  given.  Even 
had  the  command  moved  as  late  as  Friday,  with 


A    RECORD.  59 

dispatch,  it  would  not  have  been  too  late,  as  it  seems 
to  be  well  settled  that  Floyd  did  not  cross  over  any 
considerable  body  of  troops  until  Saturday. 

In  the  way  of  criticism  on  this  affair,  it  has  been 
said  that,  had  a  spirited  dash  been  made  on  the 
enemy  on  Saturday  evening,  the  rebels  could  have 
been  driven  across  the  river.  I  think  this  claim 
subject  to  many  doubts.  In  my  opinion  a  recon- 
noissance  should  have  been  made  that  night,  instead 
of  falling  back  to  Panther  Mountain.  This  would 
have  resulted  in  the  discovery  of  their  position  and 
force,  and  thus  given  the  command  an  opportunity 
to  take  advantage  of  the  night  to  withdraw.  Had 
this  been  done,  the  ferry  might  possibly  have  been 
reached. 

The  result  of  these  blunders  was  the  fighting  of 
two  engagements,  with  a  heavy  Federal  loss,  while 
the  enemy  suffered  less.  One  of  these,  Carnifex 
Ferry,  has  been  dignified  with  the  name  of  battle, 
while  the  other  is  considered  but  an  affair. 

After  the  repulse  of  the  Seventh,  Floyd  intrenched 
himself  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  near  the  ferry. 
About  two  weeks  later,  "  Rosecrans  came  down 
with  his  legions,"  comprising  about  four  thousand 
men.  Approaching  the  vicinity  of  the  ferry,  he 
threw  forward  General  Benham's  brigade,  with  no 
design  of  bringing  on  an  engagement,  however ; 
but  the  line  unwittingly  advanced  to  within  a  short 


60  THE     SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

distance  of  the  enemy's  works,  when  a  sheet  of 
flame  shot  along  their  entire  line.  The  unequal 
contest  lasted  five  hours,  when  the  Union  forces 
withdrew,  hungry  and  supperless,  with  a  loss  of 
fourteen  killed,  and  one  hundred  and  four  wounded. 
The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  about  twenty  wounded. 

The  troops  awoke  in  the  morning  to  find  the 
rebel  works  abandoned.  Thus  ended  the  battle 
of  Carnifex  Ferry,  no  less  a  blunder  than  Cross 
Lanes. 

General  Benham  was  censured  for  having  at- 
tacked  their  main  works,  when  he  was  ordered  to 
make  a  reconnoissance  only.  But  when  it  is  un 
derstood  that  the  commanding  general  sent  up 
reinforcements,  the  blame,  if  there  was  any,  at 
tached  itself  to  him. 

The  loss  to  the  Seventh,  at  Cross  Lanes,  was  one 
killed,  twenty  wounded,  and  ninety-six  taken  pris 
oners.  Several  of  these  were  recaptured  at  Carnifex 
Ferry,  when  Rosecrans  attacked  Floyd.  Among 
the  'number  wras  Lieutenant  Cross,  Company  C. 
The  loss  to  the  enemy  has  never  been  known. 
There  is  no  doubt,  however,  that  it  wras  consider 
able.  They  attacked  in  large  numbers,  confident 
of  an  easy  victory,  therefore  very  little  caution 
attended  their  movements.  But  instead  of  a  flag 
of  truce,  accompanied  by  an  offer  to  surrender, 
they  were  met  by  a  shower  of  bullets,  which  must 


A    KECOKD.  61 

have  told  fearfully  on  their  heavy  columns.  The 
fact  that  they  were  thrown  into  such  confusion  as 
to  permit  our  men  to  escape,  shows  that  they  were 
too  severely  punished  to  follow  up  their  victory. 

The  force  of  Floyd  has  been  variously  estimated: 
some  having  placed  it  as  high  as  six  thousand  ; 
while,  in  his  official  report  of  the  engagement  at 
Carnifex  Ferry,  Floyd  himself  places  it  at  only  two 
thousand.  His  force  was  probably  four  thousand, 
of  all  arms,  with  ten  pieces  of  artillery.  This  en 
tire  force  must  have  been  in  the  vicinity  at  the  time 
of  the  affair  at  Cross  Lanes. 

The  following  is  an  unofficial  list  of  the  less  in 
the  regiment : 

Killed. — Captain  John  N.  Dyer. 

Wounded. — Corporal  Frank  Button,  N.  J.  Holly, 
Thomas  Shepley,  Thomas  J.  Scoville,  Sergeant  H. 
G.  Orton,  Joseph  W.  Collins,  B.  Yeakins,  Lewis  J. 
Jones,  Thomas  S.  Curran,  William  Meriman,  B.  F. 
Gill,  AVilliam  S.  Reed,  David  M.  Daily,  Robert  J. 
Furguson,  James  R.  Greer,  E.  J.  Kreiger,  Sergeant 
James  Grebe,  John  W.  Doll,  William  W.  Ritiche, 
Fred.  W.  Steinbauer. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  those  taken  prisoners : 

Sergeant  W.  W.  Parmeter,  Sergeant  E.  R.  Stiles, 
Sergeant  G.  C.  C.  Ketchum,  Sergeant  F.  F.  Wil- 
coxson,  Sergeant  Edward  Bohn,  Sergeant  A.  Kol- 
man,  Sergeant  E.  W.  Morey,  Corporal  C.  F.  Mack, 


62  'THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

Corporal  J.  G.  Turner,  Corporal  T.  A.  Mohler, 
Corporal  S.  M.  Cole,  Corporal  E.  C.  Palmer,  Cor 
poral  Charles  Bersett,  Privates  Albert  Osborn, 
Charles  Weber,  Alex.  Parker,  R.  Bears,  L.  Warren, 
A.  M.  Halbert,  II.  Keiser,  S.  B.  Kingsbury,  E. 
Kennedy,  A.  Hubbell,  C.  C.  Quinn,  C.  Burrows, 

E.  Evans,  W.  II.   Scott,  C.  H.  Howard,    Charles 
Carrol,  T.  B.  Myers,  George  Sweet,  John  Massa, 
J.   E.   Curtis,   W.   E.   Bartlett,    W.   Cherry,   John 
Bark,    John   Hann,    L.    M.    Blakesly,   Z.   Fox,   J. 
Butler,  F.  S.  Stillwell,  G.  W.  Downing,  G.  C.  New-    ' 
ton,  William    Biggs,  Mathew  Merkle,   J.   Sheloy, 
H.  Huntoon,  G.  W.  Williams,  George  C.  Robinson, 
H.  Wessenbock,  J.  C.  Rafferty,  J.  Snyder,  W.  W. 
Wheeler,  C.  Haskell,  J.  W.  Finch,  James  Johnson, 
H.  Johnson,  L.  C.  Logue,  A.  Scoville,  R.  Wildson, 

F.  Boole,  John  Miller,  P.  Jenkins,  John  Smith,  J. 
Wolf,  Theodore  Btirt,  A.  Schwartz,  G.  A.  Akerman, 
Charles  Sahl,  G.  W.  Thompson,  F.  Williams,  M. 
H.  Whaley.  Z.  Larkins,  T.  Hebbig,  Z.  A.  Fuig,  F. 
A.  Noble,  J.  Hettlick,  J.  McCabe,  L.  Beles,  E.  R. 
Smith,  F.  A.  Rubicon,  John  Smith,  E.  Smith,  H. 
Smith,  D.  N.  K.  Hubbard,  II.  Wood,  Charles  Ot- 
tinger,  R.  S.  Beel,  N.  D.  Claghorn,  II.  Thompson, 
N.  Freidenburg,  M.  Levullen,  S.  Gill,  fifer. 


A    RECORD.  63 


CHAPTER  VI. 

CHARLESTON  AND  THE  KANAWHA  VALLEY. — A  DOUBLE  MURDER. 
— COLONEL  TYLER  ASSUMES  COMMAND  OF  THE  POST. 

AFTKR  the  engagement  at  Cross  Lanes,  five  com 
panies  of  the  regiment  remained  at  Gauley  Bridge, 
while  the  balance  were  at  Charleston.  The  latter 
part  was  commanded  by  Colonel  Guthrie,  of  the 
First  Kentucky  Regiment.  At  this  time  it  was  the 
seat  of  justice  for  Kanawha  County,  and  contained 
upwards  of  three  thousand  inhabitants.  It  is  a 
neat  village,  situated  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
Kanawha  River,  at  a  point  where  the  Elk  empties 
into  it.  There  is  a  fine  suspension  bridge  over  the 
latter  stream,  which  the  rebels  undertook  to  destroy 
in  their  flight.  Charleston  is  three  hundred  and 
eight  miles  west  of  Richmond,  and  forty  six  miles 
east  of  the  Ohio  River.  It  was  named  after 
Charles  Clendenin,  an  early  settler,  and  an  owner 
of  the  soil  on  which  it  is  built. 

The  Valley  of  the  Kanawha  is  famous  for  its 
beautiful  scenery.  The  mountains  on  either  side  of 
the  river  sometimes  rise  to  the  height  of  five  hun 
dred  feet  and  more,  and  are  liberally  supplied  with 


64  THE    SEVENTH    EEGIMENT: 

rich  beds  of  minerals  and  coal.  At  their  base  is 
located  the  famous  Kanawha  salt  works.  They 
commence  near  Charleston,  and  extend  for  about 
fifteen  miles  above  it.  Before  the  rebellion  they 
gave  employment  to  nearly  six  thousand  persons. 
The  following  extract  will  be  of  interest : 

"  It  is  a  curious  fact,  and  worthy  of  philosophical 
inquiry,  that  wrhile  the  salt  water  is  obtained  by 
boring  to  a  depth  of  from  three  hundred  to  five 
hundred  feet  below  the  bed  of  the  Kanawha,  it  in 
variably  rises  to  a  level  with  the  river.  When  the 
latter  is  swollen  by  rains,  or  the  redundant  waters 
of  its  tributaries,  the  saline  fluid,  inclosed  in  suit 
able  "  gums"  on  the  shore,  ascends  like  the  mercury 
in  its  tube,  and  only  falls  when  the  river  returns  to 
its  wonted  channel.  How  this  mysterious  corre 
spondence  is  produced  is  a  problem  which  remains 
to  be  solved.  Theories  and  speculations  I  have 
heard  on  the  subject,  but  none  seem  to  me  to  be 
precisely  consonant  with  the  principles  of  science." 

Before  the  presence  of  the  army  interrupted  the 
manufacture  of  salt,  these  works  yielded  about  two 
million  bushels  annually,  and  are  capable  of  yield 
ing  much  more  with  an  increase  of  capital. 

"While  Colonel  Guthrie  commanded  the  post  at 
Charleston  a  most  disgraceful  tragedy  was  enacted. 
An  order  had  been  issued  that  no  liquors  of  any 
description  should  be  sold  or  given  to  the  soldiers 


A    EECOED.  65 

or  employees  of  the  Government.  During  the  time 
this  order  was  in  force,  a  party  of  drunken  rowdies 
from  the  First  Kentucky  Regiment  stopped  at  the 
grocery  of  an  old  man,  and  asked  for  some  beer  ; 
when  refused,  they  demanded  it.  Being  again  re 
fused  they  threatened  violence,  and  proceeded  to 
put  their  threats  into  force,  when  a  son  of  the  old 
man,  occupying  a  room  above,  was  brought  to  the 
window  by  the  old  gentleman's  cries  for  help,  and, 
seeing  his  father  thus  set  upon  by  a  mob,  from  the 
repeated  assaults  of  which  his  life  was  endangered, 
fired  a  revolver,  the  contents  of  which  took  effect 
on  one  of  the  assaulting  party,  producing  instant 
death.  He  was  at  once  arrested  and  lodged  in  jail, 
around  which  a  strong  guard  was  placed  to  prevent 
his  being  taken  out  and  hung. 

That  night  Colonel  Guthrie,  in  a  speech  made  to 
the  excited  throng,  which  had  collected  around  the 
jail,  said,  in  substance,  that  the  life  of  the  criminal 
should  be  taken  if  he  had  to  do  it  with  his  own 
hand.  Similar  remarks  were  made  by  others, 
among  whom  was  a  captain  who  afterwards  sat  as 
judge-advocate  on  the  trial. 

On  the  morning  after  the  affair  the  members  con 
stituting  the  court-martial  assembled  "  in  all  the 
pomp  and  pride  of  glorious  war,"  decorated  with 
all  the  paraphernalia  belonging  to  an  officer's 
equipment,  but  to  declare  a  prejudged  opinion. 


66  THE    SEVENTH    KEGIMENT : 

During  the  trial  the  prisoner  was  as  immovable 
as  a  statue,  evincing  in  his  appearance  a  want  of 
hope,  as  well  as  a  preparation  for  the  worst.  He 
made  no  defence.  The  announcement  of  the  sen 
tence  of  death  produced  no  change ;  he  preserved 
a  stoical  appearance  to  the  last. 

When  the  hour  of  execution  arrived  the  prisoner 
was  brought  to  the  gallows  in  a  heavy  wagon, 
guarded  by  a  double  file  of  soldiers,  who  were 
laughing  as  gayly  as  if  on  their  way  to  some  place 
of  amusement.  During  the  afternoon  the  sun  had 
shone  through  a  cloudless  sky  ;  but  just  before 
this  terrible  scene  was  enacted,  the  heavens  were 
draped  with  heavy  clouds,  and  the  rain  fell  in  tor 
rents,  casting  a  gloom  on  all  around.  The  wretched 
victim  ascended  the  gallows  with  a  firm  tread,  and 
addressed  a  few  words,  in  a  fearless  tone,  to  those 
assembled  around.  As  the  rope  was  being  ad 
justed  around  his  neck,  the  crowd  involuntarily 
gave  way,  showing  that,  although  they  had  been 
clamorous  for  the  enactment  of  the  scene,  yet 
when  the  time  came,  they  had  not  the  nerve  to 
witness  the  death-struggle  of  their  victim.  There 
was  but  little  movement  of  the  body  after  the  fatal 
drop  fell.  This  last  scene  was  sickening  in  the  ex 
treme,  and  all  of  us,  moved  by  a  common  im 
pulse,  turned  and  walked  away  in  silence,  our 
hearts  being  too  full  for  utterance. 


A    KECOBD.  67 

This  is  one  more  testimony  against  the  safety  and 
justice  of  the  death  penalty. 

On  the  19th  day  of  October,  Colonel  Tyler  took 
command  of  the  post  at  Charleston.  He  issued  the 
following  proclamation  : 

"  In  assuming  the  command  of  this  post,  one  of 
my  principal  objects  will  be  to  maintain  order,  and 
to  see  that  the  rights  of  persons  and  property  have 
the  protection  guaranteed  by  general  orders  from 
department  headquarters.  To  the  faithful  execu 
tion  of  this  my  entire  energies,  together  with  the 
force  at  my  command,  will  be  given.  To  this  end  I 
have  established  Camp  Warren,  where  officers  and 
soldiers  are  required  to  be  at  all  times,  except  when 
on  duty  which  calls  them  away,  or  on  leave  of  ab 
sence,  which  will  only  be  granted  at  headquarters. 
Commissioned  and  non-commissioned  officers  will 
be  held  personally  responsible  for  any  violation  of 
this  order  by  members  of  their  companies.  Drunk 
enness,  marauding,  boisterous  and  imsoldierlike 
conduct  are  strictly  forbidden.  To  prevent  this, 
the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors,  directly  or  in 
directly,  to  those  in  the  service  of  the  United 
States,  is  positively  and  emphatically  prohibited ; 
and  I  call  upon  the  citizens  to  aid  me  in  detecting 
those  who  violate  this  order.  The  quiet  of  your 
town,  the  protection  of  your  property — in  fact  your 


68  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT  : 

lives  and  the  lives  of  your  families — depend  much, 
upon  the  sobriety  of  our  officers  and  men ;  there 
fore,  it  becomes  your  duty  as  well  as  your  interest 
to  lend  me  your  aid  in  the  execution  of  this  order. 

"E.  B.  TYLER, 
"  Colonel  Commanding  Post." 

Under  the  rule  of  Colonel  Tyler  the  post  at 
Charleston  assumed  order  and  quiet.  Under  the 
former  commandant  drunkenness  was  common, 
while  marauding  parties  were  free  to  patrol  tlie 
streets  on  their  errands  of  mischief.  The  property 
of  the  citizens  was  at  the  mercy  of  these  gangs, 
while  their  lives  were  not  unfrequently  placed 
in  jeopardy.  The  people,  therefore,  were  much 
gratified  with  the  change  of  rule.  Camps  were 
now  established  at  some  distance  from  the  village, 
while  no  soldiers  were  permitted  to  visit  it  unless 
they  first  obtained  a  pass  from  headquarters,  which, 
being  established  in  town,  was  difficult  to  procure. 
A  provost-marshal  was  anointed,  with  a  proper 
guard  subject  to  his  orders.  This  guard  was  in 
structed  to  arrest  all  soldiers  found  in  the  streets  of 
the  village  without  a  proper  pass,  as  well  as  those 
committing  any  depredations  on  the  property  or 
persons  of  the  citizens,  with  or  without  a  pass. 

About  the  middle  of  October  the  companies  at 
Gauley  Bridge  came  down  to  Charleston.  During 


A    RECORD.  69 

their  stay  on  the  Gauley  they  performed  much  duty 
at  the  outposts ;  several  times  being  under  the 
enemy's  fire,  though  none  were  injured.  The  de 
tachment  suffered  severe  loss,  however,  from  sick 
ness.  Lieutenant  Robinson  was  among  the  num 
ber  ;  he  died  of  fever ;  his  loss  was  greatly  felt  by 
the  regiment.  When  the  news  of  his  death  reached 
his  company,  they  wept  as  for  a  brother. 


70  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 


CHAPTER  VII. 

FLOYD  ESTABLISHES  BATTERIES  ON  COTTON  HILL.  —  DRIVEN  OFF 
BY  THE  FOECES  OF  GENERAL  Cox.  —  BENHAM's  FAILURE  TO 
INTERCEPT  HIS  RETREAT.  —  HlS  PURSUIT.  —  SKIRMISH  AT  Mc- 
OOY'S  MILLS.  —  His  FINAL  ESCAPE. 


the  last  of  October  General  Floyd  very 
suddenly  appeared  on  Cotton  Hill,  an  abrupt  emin 
ence  lying  between  the  Kanawha  and  New  rivers, 
at  the  junction  of  the  Gauley  with  the  latter  stream, 
which  form  the  Kanawha.  The  enemy  immediately 
commenced  shelling  Gauley  Bridge.  General  Cox, 
who  was  some  distance  np  New  River,  near  the 
headquarters  of  General  Rosecrans,  was  ordered  to 
proceed  to  Gauley  Bridge  and  to  assume  direction 
of  affairs.  He  was  also  ordered  to  direct  General 
Benham,  who  was  expected  to  arrive  very  soon 
with  a  brigade,  to  cross  his  forces,  at  night,  over 
the  Kanawha  River,  and  to  carry  the  summit  of 
Cotton  Hill  by  storm.  A  picket  post  had  already 
been  established  across  the  river  by  direction  of 
General  Cox.  Benham  protested  against  the  move 
ment,  and  refused  to  execute  the  order  received  - 
through  General  Cox,  but  proceeded  to  confer,  by 


A    KECOED.  71 

telegraph,  with  General  Kosecrans,  receiving  in 
reply  the  same  orders.  Beoham  still  protesting 
against  attempting  to  execute  what  he  termed  so 
hazardous  a  movement,  at  his  own  request  was  per 
mitted  to  pass  down  the  river  to  the  mouth  of  Loop 
Creek,  from  whence  he  was  to  undertake  a  flank 
movement.  Colonel  Smith  joined  General  Benham 
in  his  protest,  declaring  the  attempt  to  storm  these 
batteries  as  sheer  madness.  It  is  significant  that 
General  Cox  afterwards  stormed  and  carried  Cotton 
Hill,  with  barely  a  regiment  of  troops. 

Floyd  had  constructed  a  line  of  fortifications  at 
Dickerson's,  on  the  road  to  Fayetteville,  which  was 
his  only  avenue  of  retreat  in  case  of  disaster. 

Soon  after  General  Benham  arrived  opposite 
Loop  Creek,  he  wras  joined  by  five  hundred  selected 
men  from  the  Seventh  from  Charleston.  This  de 
tachment  of  the  regiment,  having  arrived  on  boats, 
was  ordered  to  disembark,  and  take  up  their  posi 
tion  at  the  mouth  of  Loop  Creek.  The  follow 
ing  morning  it  moved  up  the  creek  some  eight  or 
ten  miles,  where  it  took  up  its  position  at  an  old  log 
barn.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Creighton  being  in  com 
mand,  Colonel  Tyler  having  remained  at  Charles 
ton,  was  instructed  to  picket  the  roads  well  in  his 
front,  as  well  as  the  mountains  lying  between  ;  and 
also  to  scout  the  country  in  the  vicinity,  for  the 
purpose  of  finding  out  the  position  of  the  camp  of 


72  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

the  enemy,  as  well  as  his  numbers.  The  latter  part 
of  the  order  was  well  executed,  and  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  Benham  was  possessed  of  accurate  infor 
mation  of  the  enemy. 

After  the  third  day  of  our  occupation  of  this 
position  we  were  joined  by  a  detachment  of  the 
Forty-fourth  Ohio,  under  command  of  Major  Mitch 
ell,  and  the  Thirty-seventh  Ohio,  under  command  of 
Colonel  Seibert.  Soon  after,  all  of  this  force,  with 
the  exception  of  eight  companies  of  the  Thirty- 
seventh  Regiment,  was  ordered  forward  undeY 
command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Creighton. 

Proceeding  for  some  distance  on  a  road  leading 
to  the  front,  we  struck  into  a  bridle  path,  and  after 
passing  through  a  wood,  began  ascending  a  moun 
tain.  Single  file,  the  command  clambered  up  its 
steep  and  rocky  sides.  Arriving  on  its  summit  we 
could  see  the  heads  of  a  line  of  men  extending  for  a 
mile  beneath  us.  Descending  the  opposite  side 
with  some  difficulty,  we  marched  some  distance 
from  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  and  found  ourselves 
at.  Cassady's  Mills,  a  point  from  which  the  command 
was  to  debouch  on  to  the  Fayetteville  pike,  should 
Floyd  attempt  a  retreat.  But  the  movement,  on 
the  part  of  Benham,  was  so  tardily  executed,  that 
the  balance  of  the  command  never  arrived  at  this 
point ;  but  instead,  the  forces,  other  than  the  Seventh 
Ohio,  were  ordered  away  that  night  ;  leaving  a 


A    RECORD.  73 

detachment  of  five  hundred  men,  with  no  support, 
within  three  miles  of  a  well-equipped  army  of  the 
enemy.  "We  were  so  near  that  we  could  plainly 
hear  the  bugle  calls  in  Floyd's  camp.  Had  Ben- 
ham's  entire  command  been  at  that  point,  the  retreat 
of  the  rebel  army  could  have  been  intercepted. 
Previous  to  this,  Floyd  had  been  driven  back  to 
his  intrenchments  at  Dickerson's,  and  all  that  was 
necessary  to  his  capture,  was  an  attack  on  his  rear 
on  the  part  of  Benham.  But  he  either  feared  to 
make  the  attack,  or  was  too  slow  in  doing  it.  The 
former  is  probably  true.  That  night  the  rebel 
general  passed  within  three  miles  of  our  position, 
and  escaped  with  his  entire  army,  together  with  the 
artillery  and  baggage. 

On  the  12th  of  November,  Benham  arrived  at 
Cotton  Hill,  but  to  find  the  forces  of  General  Cox 
in  possession.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  13th,  he 
pushed  on  after  Floyd's  retreating  army,  arriving 
within  four  miles  of  Fayetteville,  at  about  eleven 
o'clock  P.  M.  Here,  evidences  of  the  hurried  retreat 
of  Floyd  began  to  multiply.  The  fences  were  lined 
with  hides,  but  recently  stripped  from  the  carcasses 
of  cattle,  while  in  many  places  the  beef  itself  was 
left  suspended  from  the  fence. 

On  the  morning  of  the  4th,  we  pushed  through 
Fayetteville  before  day,  in  the  pursuit.  Floyd  had 

but  a  few  hours  the  start.     Six  miles  ahead  we  took 

4 


74  THE     SEVENTH     REGIMENT: 

breakfast,  consisting  of  two  army  crackers  to  eacli 
man.  After  which  we  pushed  rapidly  on.  About 
noon,  our  skirmishers,  the  Thirteenth  Ohio,  over 
took  the  rear-guard  of  the  enemy,  when  sharp  firing 
occurred,  which  continued  during  an  advance  of 
several  miles,  resulting  in  the  mortal  wounding  of 
St.  George  Croghan,  colonel  of  the  Second  Georgia 
cavalry,  and  formerly  of  the  United  States  Army. 
The  colonel  was  taken  to  a  house  close  by  and  left, 
where  he  was  found  in  a  dying  condition  by  our 
men.  Having  been  a  class-mate  of  his  at  West 
Point,  Benham  stopped  and  passed  a  few  words 
with  him.  When  recognizing  the  general,  Croghan 
appeared  to  be  much  affected ;  and  is  reported  to 
have  said  that  he  knew  he  was  fighting  in  a  bad 
cause,  and  that  he  had  been  driven  into  the  army 
much  against  his  wishes,  for  he  was  still  attached  to 
the  old  flag.  He  soon  after  expired. 

While  this  conversation  was  being,  carried  on 
between  officers  so  differently  circumstanced,  the 
Union  forces  had  pressed  the  rebels  so  closely,  that 
the  latter,  to  save  their  baggage  train,  were  com 
pelled  to  make  a  stand.  The  Seventh  Ohio  was 
ordered  to  act  as  reserve,  bufr  when  the  action  grew 
hot,  was  ordered  forward,  with  instructions  to  send 
out  two  companies  as  skirmishers,  which  was- 
immediately  done  ;  Companies  A  and  K  being  sent 
forward. 


A    EECOBD.  75 

About  this  time  two  pieces  of  rifled  cannon  were 
brought  to  bear  on  the  rebels,  when  they  turned 
and  fled,  leaving  six  killed  on  the  field.  We  were 
so  near,  that  we  plainly  heard  the  retreat  sounded 
by  their  bugles.  From  this  time  their  retreat  be 
came  a  rout.  In  their  flight,  they  cast  away  every 
thing  that  would  encumber  their  retreat.  We  were 
now  on  the  banks  of  a  stream,  over  whose  rock;y 
cliffs  numerous  wagons,  with  their  contents,  had 
been  hurled.  It  was  supposed,  that  several  pieces 
of  cannon  shared  the  same  fate. 

The  pursuit  was  continued  with  much  vigor,  until 
a  late  hour  in  the  evening,  when  General  Schenck, 
having  but  just  arrived  at  the  front,  ordered  it 
discontinued.  This  was  the  second  error  of  the 
campaign.  Schenck,  with  his  fresh  troops,  instead 
of  ordering  the  pursuit  to  cease,  should  have  pressed 
writh  vigor.  The  enemy  encamped  but  a  short  dis 
tance  in  our  front,  on  Three-mile  Mountain.  This 
position  could  have  been  carried  with  ease,  with  the 
combined  forces  of  Schenck  and  Benham,  with 
comparatively  little  loss.  But  the  pursuit  being  the 
result  of  a  blunder,  resulted  in  a  blunder. 

A  little  after  midnight  the  command  fell  back, 
arriving  at  Fayetteville  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
same  day,  after  a  fatiguing  march  over  the  worst 
road  that  could  be  imagined,  and  with  no  provis 
ions  other  than  beef  with  a  very  little  salt.  The 


76  THE     SEVENTH     BEGIMENT! 

Seventh  marched  to  its  old  camp,  four  miles  out  on 
the  road  to  Cotton  Hill.  The  officers  and  men  lay 
on  the  hill-side  that  night,  exposed  to  a  violent  snow 
storm,  with  no  other  covering  than  their  blankets, 
except  the  snowy  sheet  that  nature  spread  over 
them  during  the  long  hours  of  night. 

During  the  night  a  demonstration  was  made  on  a 
drove  of  pigs  which  were  lurking  close  by  ;  and  it 
would  not  be  strange  if  the  soldiers  could  relate 
tales  of  their  descent  on  poultry  yards  and  bee- hives. 
True  it  is,  that  some  first-class  honey  found  its  way 
into  camp. 

The  next  day,  marching  over  Cotton  Hill,  we 
arrived  at  our  camp  near  the  mouth  of  Loop  Creek. 
Embarking  on  the  following  day,  we  arrived  at 
Charleston  on  the  18th,  after  an  absence  of  fourteen 
days. 


A    EECOKD.  77 


CHAFTEK  YIIL 

REFLECTION'S  ON  THE  INSTITUTION  OF  SLAVERY. 

WHILE  at  Charleston,  we  were  deeply  impressed 
with  the  profound  interest  the  slaves  were  taking 
in  passing  events.  That  down-trodden  race,  who 
had  for  years  suffered  every  injustice  at  the  hands 
of  their  white  oppressors,  were  now  the  first  to 
assist  the  Federal  commanders.  Through  darkness 
and  storm,  they  carried  information,  and  acted  as 
scouts  and  guides  on  occasions  when  it  would  try 
the  heart  and  nerve  of  their  white  companions. 

From  my  own  observation,  I  am  confident  that 
the  slaves  of  the  South,  were  just  as  well  informed 
with  regard  to  their  relation  to  their  masters,  as  we 
were.  They  were,  from  the  very  first,  impressed 
with  the  idea  that  this  rebellion  was  to  work  some 
great  change  in  their  condition.  They  were  watch 
ing,  with  great  interest,  every  movement  of  troops, 
and  were  continually  asking  questions,  as  to  the 
disposition  to  be  made  of  them  ;  thus  evincing  an 
interest  in  military  affairs,  of  which  their  masters 
little  dreamed.  It  is  well,  enough  to  talk  of  the 


78  THE    SEVENTH    EEGIMENT  I 

deep  devotion  of  slaves  to  their  masters ;  but  the 
latter  have  found  ere  this,  I  trust,  that  this  devotion 
on  which  they  have  relied,  has  not  prevented  them 
from  cutting  their  throats,  when  it  was  in  the  line 
of  their  duty,  .and  by  means  of  which  they  could 
gain  their  freedom.  An  instance  of  this  great 
devotion  on  the  part  of  a  slave  for  his  master,  was 
related  to  me  while  at  Charleston. 

A  Mr.  R owned  a  colored  servant  by  the 

name  of  John  ;  he  enjoyed  the  unlimited  confidence 
of  his  master,  who  was  in  the  habit  of  trusting  hiiti 
as  he  would  one  of  his  children.  Tin's  confidence 
was  reciprocated  by  a  like  devotion  on  the  part  of 
the  slave  for  his  master.  One  day  a  neighbor  told 

Mr.  R that  his  John  was  about  to  run  away, 

as  he  had  repeated  conversations  with  his  servants 

on   the  subject.     Mr.  R flew  into  a  passion, 

feeling  very  .much  grieved  that  his  neighbor  should 
think,  for  a  moment,  that  his  John,  whom  he  had 
raised  from  infancy,  should  prove  so  ungrateful  as 
to  leave  him.  The  only  attention  he  paid  to  this 
timely  warning  was,  to  put  still  greater  trust  in  his 
servant.  One  day,  shortly  after  this,  John  was 
missing ;  not  only  this,  he  had  been  so  ungrateful  as 
to  take  his  wife  and  three  children.  The  last  heard 
from  faithful  John  was,  that  he  was  safe  in  Ohio. 
Now  Mr.  R is  a  very  good  man  and  a  Chris 
tian,  and  treat  his  servants  very  kindly  ;  but  that 


A    RECORD.  79 

God-given  principle,  a  desire  for  personal  liberty, 
actuated  him  in  connection  with  other  men  of  fairer 
complexion.  John,  undoubtedly,  left  his  old  home 
and  master  with  regret,  but  home  and  friendship, 
when  compared  with  freedom,  were  nothing. 

I  was  once  told  by  a  colored  man,  in  whom  the 
utmost  confidence  could  *be  placed,  that  there- has 
been  for  years  an  association  among  the  negroes, 
which  extends  throughout  the  South,  the  purpose 
of  which  was  one  day  to  liberate  themselves  from 
slavery.  He  said  that  hundreds  of  slaves  who,  ap 
parently,  were  as  innocent  as  ignorant,  were  tolera 
bly  well  educated,  and  were  secretly  bending  every 
energy  to  bring  about  an  insurrection,  which  should 
end  in  their  being  released  from  bondage.  When 
asked  if  the  field-hands  were  members  of  this  asso 
ciation,  he  said  they  were ;  and  although  possessing 
less  information  than  those  living  in  the  cities  and 
villages,  yet  they  were  aware  of  what  was  going  on ; 
and  after  their  work  was  done  at  night,  they  often 
met  in  their  cabins,  and  talked  over  the  prospect  be 
fore  them.  He  also  said,  that  in  the  larger  cities  of 
the  South  this  association  had  regular  meetings  and 
officers ;  that  they  awaited  only  the  proper  time, 
when  a  tragedy  would  be  enacted  all  over  the 
South,  that  would  astonish  the  world. 

When  we  reflect  that  revolts  have  been  com 
mon  in  the  South,  and  that  they  have  been  attend- 


80  THE    SEVENTH    KEGIMENTI 

ed  by  partial  success,  it  does  not  require  a  great 
stretch  of  the  imagination  to  believe  that  this  asso 
ciation  did  really  exist.  The  fact  of  the  intense  feel 
ing  of  hatred  cherished  by  the  people  of  the  South 
against  Northern  fanatics,  as  they  were  termed, 
who  came  amongst  them,  is  strong  evidence  in  fa 
vor  of  the  existence  of  some  organized  course  of 
policy  among  the  negroes.  The  outward  appear 
ance  of  the  slave  is  usually  gentle  in  the  extreme, 
although  his  inward  feelings  may  be  agitated  to 
such  a  degree,  that  in  a  white  man  they  would  burst 
forth  in  the  wildest  passion.  Therefore,  this  hatred 
of  the  South  to  the  opponents  of  slavery  must  be 
traced  to  a  fear  of  some  secret  organization,  the  ob 
ject  of  which  lay  deeply  buried  in  the  reticent 
minds  of'  the  slaves.  The  Southern  mind  was  more 
deeply  agitated,  from  the  fact  of  the  want  of  this 
outward  emotion  on  the  part  of  their  slaves;  for 
had  this  strong  desire  for  liberty,  which  was  awak 
ened  in  them,  burst  out  in  wild  enthusiasm,  it 
would  have  been  readily  checked  by  the  severe 
punishment  of  individuals;  but  it  was  this  secret 
working  of  this  deep-laid  desire  for  freedom  that 
troubled  them.  The  most  guilty  were,  to  all  out 
ward  appearance,  the  most  innocent.  „ 

While  the  Federal  army  occupied  the  country, 
the  slaves  were  much  less  guarded  in  what  they 
said.  One  of  these  slaves,  an  old  man,  was  passing 


ARECORD.  81 

a  tent  one  day,  when  a  soldier  said  to  him  that  he 
belonged  to  Jeff.  Davis.  With  a  knowing  look,  he 
replied  :  "  I  did  ;  but  now,  massa,  I  belong  to  Uncle 
Sam."  A  colored  woman,  who  had  been  a  slave 
for  years  (as  she  is  very  old),  came  into  our  room 
one  day,  and  taking  up  a  paper,  asked  if  we  wanted 
it.  Some  one  said  to  her,  as  she  was  about  leaving 
the  room,  that  she  had  better  not  be  seen  with  that 
paper,  as  it  was  not  the  sort  her  mistress  admired. 
Said  she,  "  I  know  what  missus  likes ;  I  can  take 
care  of  it;"  and  slfpping  it  under  her  apron  she 
left  the  room.  That  slave  could  read  and  write, 
and  yet  her  master  knew  nothing  of  it.  So  it  is 
with  many  others.  It  may  be  asked  how  they  ac 
quire  this  knowledge.  They  gain  it  in  a  great 
many  ways.  Many  of  them  learn  of  their  masters' 
children,  with  whom  house-servants  spend  a  great 
deal  of  time.  Having  acquired  a  slight  knowledge, 
it  stimulates  them  to  greater  exertion.  They  ob 
tain  scraps  of  newspapers  and  parts  of  books,  and 
thus  gain  a  great  deal  of  information  entirely  unob 
served.  The  slave  knows  how  to  keep  secrets ;  con 
sequently,  any  scheme  that  is  on  foot  is  seldom  dis 
covered.  Few  persons,  at  the  commencement  of 
the  rebellion,  had  the  least  conception  of  the  vast 
resources  and  power  of  the  slave  population  of  the 
South.  And  it  was  not  until  they  had  fed  and 

clothed  the  Southern  armies  for  two  years,  and  by 

4* 


82  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

this  means  kept  them  in  -the  field,  that  it  was  ac 
knowledged.  Had  it  not  been  for  its  slaves,  the 
South,  long  ere  this,  would  have  been  compelled  to 
yield  obedience  to  the  Government.  The  rebels 
appreciated  and  used  this  element  of  strength  from 
the  beginning.  The  Federal  Government,  through 
the . influence  of  weak-minded  politicians,  rejected 
it;  thus  throwing  an  element  of  its  own  strength 
into  the  hands  of  its  enemies. 

Notwithstanding  this  harsh  treatment,  the  slaves 
proved  true  to  the  Government  ;*and  finally,  through* 
the  medium  of  this  faithfulness,  their  vast  services 
were  acknowledged,  and  they  have  not  only  been 
taken  into  the  private  service  of  the  country,  but 
they  have  been  admitted  into  the  army,  to  swell  its 
numbers,  until  the  strength  of  their  mighty  arms, 
and  the  nerve  of  their  fearless  hearts,  are  felt  by  the 
enemies  of  the  country  on  every  battle-field.  What 
a  glorious  thought!  thousands  of  the  oppressed 
fighting  for  the  redemption  from  slavery  of  a  race 
which  has  ever  worn  the  chain.  When  it  is  re 
membered  that  by  this  strife  questions  are  to  be 
settled  which  have  ever  disturbed  the  harmony  of 
this  country,  and  not  that  only,  but  questions  which, 
when  settled,  will  release  millions  of  our  fellow-rnen 
and  women  from  the  power  of  the  oppressor,  ought 
we  not  to  be  thankful  that  we  are  permitted  to 
make  great  sacrifices  in  so  good  a  cause  ? 


A    RECOBD.  83 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE  SEVENTH  OEDEEED  TO  THE  EAST. — EXPEDITION  TO  BLUE'S 
GAP. — SKIEMISH  ON  THE  BLOOMING  PIKE. 

AFTER  Floyd  was  driven  from  Cotton  Hill,  very 
few  rebels  remained  in  that  portion  of  Virginia. 
Many  troops  were  sent  to  Kentucky  and  elsewhere. 
Among  the  number  was  the  Seventh  Regiment. 
It  was  ordered  to  join  the  forces  under  command  of 
General  Ivelley,  which  were  operating  on  the  upper 
waters  of  the  Potomac,  with  headquarters  at  Cum 
berland,  Maryland. 

Accordingly,  on  the  twelfth  day  of  December, 
the  regiment  embarked  on  steamers,  and  after  pay 
ing  its  respects  to  General  Cox,  by  way  of  present 
ing  arms  and  cheers,  it  moved  down  the  river ;  thus 
leaving  forever  the  scene  of  its  past  dangers  and 
privations.  Little  had,  apparently,  been  accom 
plished,  during  its  summer  campaign  ;  but  perils 
had  been  braved,  privations  had  been  suffered,  and 
obstacles  had  been  overcome.  Many  graves  had 
been  dug  and  filled  with  the  pride  of  the  regiment. 
These  were  left  as  a  record  of  its  patient  suffering 


84:  THE    SEVENTH    KEGIMENT: 

in  that  wild  waste  of  hills.  There  was  a  sort  of 
sadness  attending  the  leaving  of  all  this  for  a  new 
field  of  operations.  But  the  soldier's  life  is  one  con 
tinued  change;  and,  therefore,  he  readily  adapts  hiin- 
eelf  to  circumstances. 

At  Parkersburg  the  regiment  left  the  boats,  and 
took  a  train  of  cars,  which  conveyed  it  to  Green 
Spring  Hun,  a  station  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
Railroad,  sixteen  miles  from  Romney,  Yjrginia. 
Here  it  remained  without  tents  for  several  days, 
when  it  was  ordered  to  Romney,  to  which  place  it* 
proceeded  immediately.  It  was  now  given  a  good 
ground  for  its  camp,  and  furnished  with  Sibley 
tents,  which  were  both  warm  and  roomy.  The 
weather  being  very  fine  for  the  time  of  year,  the 
health  and  spirits  of  the  soldiers  rapidly  improved. 

During  the  occupation  of  Romney,  quite  a  force 
of  "  bushwhackers"  had  collected  at  Blue's  Gap, 
which  were  under  command  of  Colonel  Blue.  This 
force  of  bandits  had  annoyed  the  Union  citizens  for 
sometime.  It  was  finally  resolved  to  break  it  up.  The 
force  chosen  to  do  this  work  consisted  of  the  Fourth^ 
Fifth,  Seventh,  and  Eighth  Ohio,  Fourteenth  Indi 
ana,  and  First  Virginia,  with  Danver's  two  com 
panies  of  cavalry,  and  a  section  of  Howard's  Bat 
tery,  in  all  about  two  thousand  five  hundred  men, 
under  command  of  Colonel  Dunning  of  the  Fifth 
Ohio.  A  little  past  midnight  of  January  6th,  the 


A    EECORD.  85 

force  moved  out  from  tlieir  camp.  The  niglit  was 
bitter  cold,  but  the  march  was  rapid  ;  and  just  after 
daybreak,  the  vicinity  of  the  gap  was  reached,  to 
find  that  the  rebels  were  tearing  up  the  flooring  of 
the  bridge  leading  over  the  stream  coining  through 
the  gap.  The  skirmishers  drove  this  force  away, 
and  then  advanced  over  the  bridge,  followed  by  the 
Fifth  Ohio,  which  took  possession  of  Blue's  house. 
Procuring  a  negro  woman  for  a  guide,  the  force  ad 
vanced  to  assault  the  rebel  stronghold  on  the  moun 
tain.  On  reaching  the  place,  the  intrenchments 
were  handsomely  carried,  the  rebels  standing  for 
five  rounds  only,  when  they  broke,  and  fled  down 
the  side  of  the  mountain.  Their  flight  was  so 
rapid  that  many  of  the  fugitives  ran  on  to  the 
Fourth  Ohio,  which  was  at  hand,  and  were  cap 
tured.  But  they  were  hardly  worth  taking,  for  an 
uglier  set  of  ragamuffins  the  mountains  of  Vir 
ginia,  or  the  whole  world  even,  could  hardly  pro 
duce.  Blue's  property  was  utterly  destroyed.  The 
loss  of  the  enemy  in  this  affair  was  forty  killed,  and 
as  many  taken  prisoners,  together  with  all  their 
stores,  wagons,  and  ammunition.  A  number  of 
cattle  were  also  taken  and  driven  back  to  Romney. 
On  their  return,  the  Federals  fired  several  -houses, 
which  was  a  lasting  disgrace  to  all  those  taking  part 
in  it.  General  Kelley  was  justly  indignant  at  this 
conduct. 


86  THE    SEVENTH    BEGIMENT: 

ISTothing  further  occurred  to  break  the*  ennui  of 
camp  and  picket  duty  until  the  10th,  when  an 
order  came  to  break  camp  and  prepare  for  a  march. 
Immediately  following  this  order,  all  was  bustle  and 
confusion,  in  anticipation  of  an  advance.  There 
being  a  lack  of  transportation,  some  tents  and  com 
missary  stores  were  burned.  In  early  evening, 
the  regiment  marched  into  the  town,  where  it 
was  compelled  to  wait,  through  a  fearful  storm  of 
sleet,  until  midnight,  when,  instead  of  an  advance, 
the  entire  force  rapidly  fell  back  through  Spring-  * 
field  to  Patterson's  Creek,  on  the  Baltimore  and 
Ohio  Railroad.  This  camp  was  soon  converted  into 
a  mud-hole.  If  all  of -Virginia  had  been  canvassed 
a  worse  place  for  a  camp  could  not  have  been  found. 
After  a  few  weeks  contest  with  this  everlasting 
snow  and  mud,  an  order  came,  on  the  5th  of  Feb 
ruary,  to  march,  which  was  hailed  with  universal 

j°y- 

The  force  passed  down  the  railroad  late  in  the 
afternoon,  for  a  short  distance ;  when,  leaving  the 
tents  and  baggage,  it  took  a  road  to  the  right,  and 
before  night  halted  in  a  grove  by  the  roadside. 
After  a  few  hours  spent  in  preparing  and  eating 
supper, -it  moved  off  in  the  direction  of  Romney, 
the  Seventh  in  the  advance. 

All  night  we  marched,  over  mountains  and 
streams,  through  snow  and  sleet.  In  the  morning 


A    EECOED.  87 

we  came  to  a  halt  at  an  old  tannery,  and  after  re 
maining  through  the  day,  fell  back  four  miles  and 
bivouacked  on  the  banks  of  the  Little  Cacapon 
River.  Tired  and  wet,  the  soldiers  lay  down  to  rest 
on  their  bed  of  rails  and  straw,  to  gather  strength 
for  the  morrow.  At  last,  day  dawned,  rainy  and 
gloomy,  and  the  command  moved  five  miles  to  the 
rear,  to  a  place  called  the  Levels, — a  very  high 
table-land,  exposed  to  severe  wind  and  storm,  which 
never  fails  to  visit  that  region.  The  regiment  was 
ordered  to  bivouac,  and  soon  the  pine  forest  was 
converted  into  a  village  of  green  houses,  with  hot 
fires  roaring  and  crackling  before  them. 

We  remained  here  some  fifteen  days,  within 
three  miles  of  the  tents  ;  but  for  some  reason,  better 
known  to  those  in  command,  we  were  left  on  a  hill 
top,  exposed  to  the  cold  winds  and  snows  of  Febru 
ary,  in  brush  shanties.  During  some  of  the  time  it 
was  so  cold  that  a  crust  formed  on  the  snow  suffi 
ciently  hard  to  hold  up  a  person.  During  this  time 
the  commanding  officer  of  our  brigade  occupied  a 
house  close  by,  which  was  very  convenient  as  well 
as  comfortable. 

The  regiment,  while  here,  did  very  little  duty ; 
in  fact  none,  with  the  exception  of  one  brigade  drill 
in  the  snow,  which  only  vexed  the  command,  with 
out  accomplishing  any  good. 

Colonel  Sprague,  formerly  captain  of  Company 


88  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

E,  now  paid  the  regiment  a  visit,  the  first  time  he 
had  met  his  old  comrades  since  his  capture.  Fol 
lowing  that  had  intervened  his  long  imprisonment. 
The  meeting  was  a  pleasant  one. 

On  the  13th  of  March  the  regiment  left  camp, 
and,  taking  the  Bradford  pike,  crossed  a  range  of 
hills,  at  the  foot  of  which  is  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio 
^Railroad.  Taking  this  road,  Pau-Pau  Station  was 
reached  before  night.  Here  we  found  quite  a  num 
ber  of  troops. 

General  Lander  advanced  with  one  brigade  on  tlte 
Blooming  pike.  Soon  the  advance-guard,  consist 
ing  of  a  part  of  a  regiment  of  cavalry,  came  on  to 
an  intrenched  camp  of  militia.  The  general,  taking 
command  in  person,  ordered  a  charge ;  but  barely  a 
dozen  of  these  horsemen  could  be  made  to  follow 
their  brave  leader.  But,  nothing  daunted,  Lander, 
followed  by  his  staff  and  a  few  of  the  cavalry, 
dashed  over  the  intrench ments,  when  some  fifty 
rebels  surrendered  ;  Colonel  Baldwin,  their  com 
mander,  giving  himself  up  to  Lander,  after  the 
latter  had  seized  him  by  the  shoulder,  despite  the 
revolver  which  the  rebel  colonel  held  in  his  hand. 

On  the  return  of  this  expedition,  the  Seventh  was 
ordered  out  on  to  the  pike.  After  advancing  for 
nearly  two  miles,  it  halted  by  the  roadside,  where 
it  remained  in  the  mud  and  snow  till  the  following 
afternoon,  when  it  went  into  camp  close  by. 


A   RECORD.  89 


CHAPTER  X. 

• 

GALLANTEY  OF  LIEUTENANT  O'BEIEN. — DEATH  OF  GENEEAL 
LANDEE. — THE  SEVENTH  ESOOET  HIS  EEMAINS. — THE  OCCU 
PATION  OF  WINCHESTER. 

DURING  the  occupation  of  the  country  about  Pau- 
Pau  Station,  the  troops  were  kept  active.  Skir 
mishes  were  of  frequent  occurrence.  One  of  them 
is  deserving  of  mention.  A  reconnoissance  was 
being  made  by  Lieutenant  O'Brien,  of  Lander's 
staff,  accompanied  by  twenty  or  more  cavalry, 
when  they  were  met  by  a  band  of  rebels,  who  im 
mediately  fired  a  volley ;  following  which,  they 
demanded  the  small  party  of  Federals  to  surrender. 
O'Brien,  riding  to  the  front,  declined,  at  the  same 
time  emptying  the  saddle  of  the  foremost  rebel 
with  a  revolver,  which  he  had  in  his  hand  ready 
for  use.  The  lieutenant  soon  after  received  a  fatal 
wound  in  the  shoulder,  from  the  effects  of  which  he 
died  some  weeks  after.  Seeing  their  leader  dis 
abled,  the  Union  cavalry  hurried  him  to  the  rear, 
at  ~the  same  time  presenting  a  determined  front. 
When  he  had  arrived  at  a  safe  distance  they  fell 


90  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

back,  fighting  as  they  went.  They  thus  brought 
the  gallant  O'Brien  safe  to  headquarters. 

O'Brien  was  a  writer  of  some  note.  Before  the 
war  he  was  a  contributor  to  several  periodicals, 
among  which  was  the  Atlantic  Monthly.  For  these 
magazines  he  wrote  many  elegant  things,  which 
their  readers  will  probably  remember. 

On  the  first  day  of  March,  the  monotony  of  life 
in  camp  was  broken  by  an  order  to  march.  We 
moved  out  of  camp,  followed  by  the  entire  division, 
on  the  road  leading  to  Winchester.  Towards  'even 
ing  we  crossed  the  Big  Cacapon  River,  and  after 
ascending  a  spur  of  the  Sheriandoah  Mountain, 
filed  into  a  grove  of  pines,  and  remained  till  the 
following  afternoon,  when  an  order  .was  given  to 
fall  back.  On  returning  to  our  camp,  we  found 
that  the  retrograde  movement  was  occasioned  by 
the  sudden  death  of  General  Lander.  The  brave 
soldier  and  able  commander  expired  while  his 
troops  were  moving  on  an  important  position  of  the 
enemy, — a  campaign  which  his  fertile  brain  had 
conceived,  and  which  his  daring  and  dash  were  to 
put  into  successful  execution.  ~No  wonder,  then, 
when  the  spirit  of  its  leader  took  its  flight,  that  the 
division  was  recalled.  JvTone  were  found  competent 
to  succeed  him  in  the  command  of  an  expedition 
which  had  occupied  his  every  thought  while  he 
had  been  connected  with  the  department. 


A    EECOED.  91 

On  Monday,  March  3d,  the  Seventh  regiment 
escorted  his  remains  to  the  cars,  in  the  presence  of 
fifteen  thousand  troops,  drawn  up  in  line  to  pay 
their  respects,  for  the  last  time,  to  all  that  was  left 
of  a  commander  whom  they  loved,  and  a  soldier 
whom  they  admired.  This  slow,  sad  march  of  the 
'Seventh,  to  the  strains  of  a  solemn  dirge,  was  im 
pressive.  We  returned  to  camp  with  the  reflection 
that  a  master  spirit  had  taken  its  departure. 

After  the  death  of  General  Lander,  Brigadier- 
General  Shields  was  given  the  command  of  his 
division.  He  arrived  soon  after. 

The  forces  under  General  Banks,  occupying  the 
country  in  the  vicinity  of  Harper's  Ferry,  were  or 
dered  to  make  an  immediate  advance  on  Winches 
ter.  General  Shields  was  directed  to  co-operate  in 
this  movement.  He  was  ordered  to  move  on  Mar- 
tinsburg,  when  General  Banks  crossed  the  Potomac. 

Eaiily  in  March  the  division  moved  down  to  the 
railroad,  when  on  the  same  day  it  took  the  cars  for 
Martinsburg.  On  arriving  at  Back  Creek,  ten 
miles  east  of  Hancock,  the  bridge  was  found  to  be 
destroyed.  The  command  now  bivouacked,  wrhile 
a  party  was  set  at  work  repairing  the  bridge.  The 
work  progressed  so  slowly,  that  on  the  10th  the 
command  moved  on  in  advance  of  the  train,  pass 
ing  through  Martinsburg,  and  encamping  some  two 
miles  out  on  the  Winchester  pike. 


92  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT! 

On  the  following  morning  the  column  pushed 
vigorously  forward  to  assist  General  Banks  in  his 
attack  on  Winchester.  The  rebels,  however,  in 
stead  of  giving  battle,  fled  as  the  command  ap 
proached  the  city.  Shields,  therefore,  was  ordered 
to  encamp  his  troops  before  reaching  Winchester. 
The  camp  of  the  Seventh  was  about  three  miles 
north  of  the  town,  on  "the  Martinsburg  road.  The 
balance  of  the  division  encamped  in  the  immediate 
vicinity. 

Winchester  had  for  a  long  time  been  occupied 
by  the  rebels.  The  extreme  left  of  Beauregard's 
army,  under  command  of  General  Johnston,  had 
taken  possession  of  the  place,  when  the  rebel 
troops  first  occupied  Virginia.  From  this  point, 
troops  were  immediately  sent  forward  to  occupy 
and  destroy  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  as 
well  as  to  menace  our  lines  in  the  direction  of 
Harper's  Ferry  and  Cumberland.  The  possession, 
therefore,  of  the  place  by  the  Union  forces  was  of 
great  importance.  It  not  only  resulted  in  the  pro 
tection  of  this  very  important  railroad,  but  so 
menaced  the  left  of  the  rebel  army  as  to  require  its 
commander  to  detach  a  large  force  to  the  Shenan- 
doah  Valley,  and  thus  materially  weakening  his 
main  army.  Under  a  leader  less  able  than  Jack 
son,  it  would  have  greatly  taxed  his  energies  to  hold 
the  valley.  But  under  this  indomitable  general 


AKECORD.  93 

the  army  was  enabled  to  make  a  good  show  of  re 
sistance  to  the  advance  of  the  Federal  forces. 

"Winchester,  the  county-seat  of  Frederick  County, 
is  seventy -four  miles  west  of  Washington.  The 
town  is  laid  out  in  regular  order,  the  streets  cross 
ing  at  right  angles.  The  place  possesses  some  little 
of  historical  interest.  During  the  French  and 
Indian  War,  Washington  made  it  his  headquarters  ; 
and  he  also  mentions  it  as  one  of  the  points  which 
he  touched  while  on  his  mission  to  the  French  au 
thorities  on  the  Ohio  River.  After  the  engagement 
at  Great  Meadows,  July  4,  1774,  Washington  re 
turned  to  the  place  to  recruit  his  regiment.  It  was 
also  the  base  of  operations  for  the  forces  engaged  in 
the  reduction  of  Fort  Duquesne.  During  these 
wars  a  fort  was  built  under  the  direction  of  Wash 
ington,  and  named  Fort  Landon.  A  part  of  it  is 
to  be  seen  at  this  day.  While  this  fort  was  being 
constructed,  Washington  bought  a  lot  in  Win 
chester,  had  a  blacksmith  shop  built  on  it,  and 
brought  his  own  smith  from  Mount  Vernon  to 
do  the  necessary  iron- work  for  the  fort.  A  well 
was  sunk  in  this  fort  to  the  depth  of  one  hundred 
and  three  feet,  the  water  from  which  now  runs  over 
the  top.  The  labor  of  erecting  this  fort  was  per 
formed  by  Washington's  own  regiment.  The  fa 
mous  General  Morgan,  the  leader  of  the  American 
forces  at  the  battle  of  the  Cowpens,  is  buried  here. 


94:  THE     SEVENTH     EEGIMENTI 


CHAPTER  XL 

A  KEOONNOISSANCE  TO  STRASBTJRO. — BATTLE  OF  WINCHESTER. 
— UTTEE  DEFEAT  AND  EOTJT  OF  JACKSON'S  ARMY. 

IMMEDIATELY  after  the  occupation  of  Winchester, 
the  enemy's  cavalry  advance  becoming  trouble 
some,  a  plan  was  laid  for  its  capture.  Colonel  Ma 
son,  of  the  Fourth  Ohio,  was  sent  out  on  the  road 
to  Front  Royal,  with  a  brigade,  composed  of  infan 
try,  cavalry,  and  artillery,  with  instructions  to  pro 
ceed  until  he  arrived  at  the  last  road  leading  to  the 
right  before  reaching  Front  Royal ;  which  road  he 
was  to  take,  and  by  it  strike  the  rear  of  the  enemy 
at  Middletown,  a  small  hamlet  equally  distant  from 
both  Winchester  and  Strasburg.  He  was  soon  after 
followed  by  General  Shields,  with  six  thousand 
men,  who  moved  on  the  direct  road  to  Middletown. 
Colonel  Mason's  command,  arriving  at  this  place  in 
advance  of  Shields'  column,  encountered  the  ene 
my's  pickets,  and  drove  them  to  Cedar  Creek 
Bridge,  which,  having  covered  with  combustibles, 
they  fired.  When  the  troops  of  Colonel  Mason  ar 
rived  in  the  vicinity,  they  were  opened  upon  by  a 


A    RECORD.  95 

battery,  to  which  they  replied  ;  with  no  effect,  how 
ever,  as  the  distance  was  too  great.  Shields  coming 
up  with  his  division  soon  after,  the  entire  force  biv 
ouacked  for  the  night. 

Early  the  following  morning  the  command  crossed 
the  river  without  opposition ;  but  on  arriving  at 
Strasburg,  the  enemy  opened  fire  from  a  battery 
planted  on  a  hill  beyond  the  town.  Shields,  sus 
pecting  that  the  entire  force  of  Jackson  was  in  the 
vicinity,  made  his  dispositions  for  immediate  battle. 
The  Seventh  being  ordered  out  on  the  road  beyond 
the  town,  were  fired  upon  by  a  masked  battery,  but 
none  injured.  After  having  been  exposed  to  this 
fire  for  half  an  hour,  it  was  withdrawn.  Soon  after, 
our  artillery  was  got  into- position,  and  after  thirty 
pieces  of  cannon  had  belched  forth  their  fire,  the 
rebels  fled  in  haste.  During  this  fire,  Mason's  cav 
alry  advanced  so  far  out  on  the  road,  that  they  were 
mistaken  for  the  enemy  by  Captain  Clark,  of  a  bat 
tery  of  regulars ;  he  therefore  sent  a  shell  among 
them,  with  such  accuracy  as  to  kill  a  few  horses,  and 
slightly  wound  one  man. 

An  advance  being  ordered,  the  pursuit  was  con 
tinued  for  five  miles,  when  the  command  returned 
to  Strasburg,  and  encamped  for  the  night.  On  the 
following  morning  it  fell  back  to  its  old  camp,  the 
Seventh  marching  twenty-two  miles  in  seven  hours, 
with  but  one  halt. 


96  THE    SEVENTH    KEGIMENT: 

This  reconnoissance  to  Strasburg  leaving  no  doubt 
on  the  minds  of  both  Banks  and  Shields  that  the 
enemy  was  not  in  the  front  in  force,  the  first  divi 
sion  of  Banks's  corps,  on  the  20th,  commenced  its 
movement  to  Manassas,  in  accordance  with  a  letter 
of  instruction  from  General  McClellan,  of  the  16th. 
General  Banks  did  not  follow  this  division  immedi 
ately,  but  remained  at  Winchester  until  twelve 
o'clock  on  Sunday,  the  23d,  when  he  started  for 
Harper's  Ferry. 

All  this  time  Shields  thought  he  was  being  triflecl 
with  by  the  rebel  General  Ashby. 

On  Saturday,  the  22d,  there  had  been  a  good  deal 
of  firing  in  the  early  part  of  the  day,  but  what  oc 
casioned  it  did  not  seem  to  be  well  understood,  ex 
cept  to  those  engaged.  But  during  the  afternoon  it 
was  thought  prudent  to  make  all  needful  prepara 
tion  for  battle,  so  as  not  to  be  surprised  in  case  it 
should  prove  that  a  greater  force  than  Ashby's  was 
in  front.  Therefore  the  whole  division  was  ordered 
up ;  the  third  brigade,  however,  did  not  pass 
through  the  town.  Shields  went  to  the  front,  fol 
lowed  by  the  first  and  second  brigades.  As  these 
forces  emerged  from  the  city,  the  rebel  cavalry  made 
a  dash  at  the  pickets,  who  fled  in  some  confusion 
through  the  little  hamlet  of  Kernstown,  but  rallied 
soon  after,  and  by  a  well-directed  volley  of  mus 
ketry  emptied  several  rebel  saddles.  This  success 


A    EECORD.  97 

enabled  them  to  retire  in  safety.  The  rebel  cavalry 
soon  after  advanced,  when  a  sharp  skirmish  ensued. 
Our  pickets  having  been  re-enforced  by  several  de 
tached  companies,  were  enabled  to  maintain  their 
ground.  In  the  mean  time  the  rebels  opened  on 
our  lines  from  a  battery  planted  on  an  eminence ; 
immediately  after  which  a  Union  battery  wheeled 
into  position,  when  a  spirited  artillery  duel  took 
place.  While  directing  the  fire  of  this  battery, 
Shields  was  struck  on  the  arm  by  a  fragment  of  a 
shell,  fracturing  the  arm,  and  producing  a  painful 
wTound.  He,  however,  continued  in  the  field  for 
some  time  after  the  accident  occurred,  but  was 
finally  taken  to  a  house  close  by,  and  his  arm 
dressed,  after  which  he  was  taken  to  town  in  an 
ambulance. 

The  firing  having  "ceased,  the  first  brigade  went 
into  camp  on  the  spot,  while  the  second  brigade  en 
camped  in  the  rear.  The  third  brigade  filed  into 
an  open  field  near  where  they  were  stationed  during 
the  operations  in  front. 

During  Saturday  night  a  strong  picket  was  kept 
well  out  to  the  front,  while  the  remaining  troops 
slept  on  their  arms.  Nothing  occurred  during  the 
night  to  disturb  the  several  camps. 

Morning  dawned  bright  and  pleasant.  The  still 
ness  which  rested  over  the  field  of  the  previous 
day's  operations,  gave  token  of  the  intention  of  the 


98  THE     SEVENTH   BEGIMENT: 

belligerents  to  respect  the  Sabbath-day.  In  view 
of  the  general  quiet,  the  second  and  third  brigades 
were  ordered  back  to  their  camp  on  the  Martins- 
burg  pike. 

It  was  nearly  noon  when  the  Seventh  arrived,  and 
before  the  men  had  barely  time  to  eat  a  hurriedly 
prepared  dinner,  it  was  again  ordered  forward. 
This  time  the  march  was  rapid.  The  distant  boom 
ing  of  cannon,  induced  many  a  disturbed  reflection 
as  to  what  lay  before  us.  As  we  passed  through 
Winchester  to  the  south,  we  emerged  into  an  open 
plain.  This  was  crowded  with  people,  as  w^ere  also 
the  house-tops.  They  had  assembled,  apparently, 
for  the  purpose  of  seeing  the  Union  army  defeated 
and  crushed,  and  to  welcome  the  victors  into  the 
city. 

Arriving  on  the  field,  we  found  our  forces  occu 
pying  a  commanding  position  in  rear  of  a  range  of 
hills  overlooking  Kernstown ;  while  the  batteries, 
posted  at  intervals  on  the  crest  of  these  hills,  were 
maintaining  a  heavy  fire  on  the  right  of  the  enemy's 
position,  which  alone  seemed  to  give  evidence  of 
any  purpose  to  advance.  The  left- of  our  line  was 
held  by  the  Second  brigade,  Colonel  Sullivan  ;  while 
the  centre  and  right  were  held  by  the  First  brigade. 
Colongl  Kirnball,  commanding  the  division,  was 
stationed  on  a  commanding  eminence,  from  which 
several  batteries  were  pouring  their  shot  and  shell 


A    KECOKD.  99 

into  the  enemy  whenever  he  showed  himself  within 
range. 

£D 

Up  to  this  time,  the  main  fighting  had  occurred 
in  front  of  our  left ;  but  soon  after  a  battery  opened 
in  front  of  the  right,  from  a  piece  of  timber,  which 
our  batteries  were  unable  to  silence.  It  became 
evident,  from  this,  that  the  heavy  skirmishing  which 
the  enemy  had  kept  up  from  their  right  was  simply 
a  feint,  for  the  purpose  of  drawing  the  greater  part 
of  our  force  to  that  part  of  the  field,  when  a  spirit 
ed  onslaught  would  be  made  on  the  other  flank, 
which  was  expected  to  turn  our  right  wing,  and 
thus  give  them  the  victory.  It  was  a  conception 
worthy  the  genius  of  a  Jackson,  but  it  was  entirely 
unsuccessful,  as  no  troops  were  sent  to  that  part  of 
the  field  beyond  what  ordinary  prudence  required  ; 
but  on  the  contrary,  becoming  satisfied  of  the  in 
tention  of  the  enemy,  Colonel  Kimball  resolved 
to  charge  this  battery.  The  work  was  assigned  to 
the  Third  brigade.  Colonel  Tyler,  calling  in  the 
Seventh,  which  had  been  supporting  a  battery  from 
the  time  it  arrived  on  the  field,  formed  his  brigade 
in  column,  by  divisions,  and  immediately  moved 
forward  ;  at  the  same  time  changing  direction  to  the 
right,  and  passing  up  a  ravine,  shielded  by  a  piece 
of  timber  which  skirted  it  on  the  side  towards  the 
enemy. 

After  arriving  at  some  distance  to  the  right,  the 


100       THE  SEVENTH  EEGIMENT I 

column  changed  direction  to  the  left ;  and  after  a 
march  of  nearly  a  mile,  it  arrived  on  the  flank,  and 
partly  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy.  It  had  now 
reached  an  eminence  in  a  dense  wood.  In  front, 
the  battery  which  was  the  object  of  our  movement 
was  playing  vigorously  upon  the  First  brigade,  to 
which  a  spirited  fire*  was  returned  by  Robinson's 
Battery,  which  had  wheeled  into  position  on  the 
extreme  right.  This  acted  as  a  cover  to  the  move 
ments  of  our  brigade.  Breathless,  and  with  anxious 
hearts,  we  awaited  the  return  of  our  scouts,  which 
would  be  the  signal  for  a  plunge  into  the  unknown. 
We  were  not  kept  long  in  suspense,  for  in  a  few 
minutes  the  order  was  given  to  change  direction  to 
the  left,  and  the  column  moved  forward,  preceded 
by  a  line  of  skirmishers.  After  marching  in  silence 
for  some  distance,  the  sharpshooters  opened  a  de 
structive  fire  on  us  from  behind  trees.  We  were 
immediately  ordered  to  charge  ;  and,  with  a  pro 
longed  yell,  the  command,  led  by  the  Seventh  Ohio, 
swept  like  a  torrent  down  the  hill.  A  ravine  now 
lay  in  front,  and,  at  a  short  distance,  a  slight  emi 
nence,  and  still  beyond,  a  solid  stone  wall,  behind 
which,  in  three  lines-,  nine  regiments  of  the  enemy 
lay  concealed.  It  was  a  fearful  moment.  The 
rebel  artillery,  in  the  rear  of  this  stone  wall,  had 
been  turned  upon  the  advancing  column.  The 
grape  and  canister  was  tearing  the  bark  from  the 


A    EECOED.  101 

trees  over  our  heads,  while  the  solid  shot  and  shell 
made  great  gaps  in  their  trunks.  Under  o*ur  feet 
the  turf  was  being  torn  up,  and  around  and  about 
us  the  air  was  thick  with  flying  missiles.  Not  a  gun 
was  fired  on  our  side.  The  head  of  the  column 
soon  reached  the  ravine,  when  a  deafening  discharge 
of  musketry  greeted  us.  A  sheet  of  flame  shot 
along  the  stone  wall,  followed  by  an  explosion  that 
shook  the  earth,  and  the  missiles  tore  through  the 
solid  ranks  of  the  command  with  a  fearful  certainty. 
The  brigade  staggered — halted.  With  breathless 
anxiety  we  anticipated  a  counter-charge  by  the 
rebels  ;  but  it  came  not.  Victory  to  our  arms  fol 
lowed  that  omission  on  the  part  of  the  enemy.  The 
order  being  given  to  fire,  the  column  recovered 
from  the  confusion  into  which  it  had  been  tempo 
rarily  thrown.  The  Seventh  now  advanced  to  the 
eminence  beyond  the  ravine ;  and,  from  a  partial 
cover,  maintained  the  unequal  contest  till  the  other 
regiments  could  form  and  come  to  its  support.  The 
One  Hundred  and  Tenth  Pennsylvania  Regiment  was 
thrown  into  such  confusion,  that  it  was  of  little  ser 
vice  during  the  remainder  of  the  day. 

An  order  was  given  to  the  Seventh  to  prolong  its 
line  to  the  left.  An  attempt  was  made  to  execute 
the  order,  when  the  left  wing,  passing  over  a  fence 
into  an  open  field,  received  such  a  well-directed  fire 
as  to  compel  it  to  fall  back  to  its  old  position. 


102      THE  SEVENTH  EEGIMENT: 

During  this  part  of  .the  contest,  the  rebels  endeav 
ored  to  extend  their  left,  so  as  to  flank  us  on  the 
right.  To  meet  this  movement,  Tyler  ordered  the 
First  Virginia  to  move  to  the  right.  Passing  into 
an  open  field,  it  was  exposed  to  a  cross-fire,  which 
soon  drove  it  back  to  the  timber. 

The  roar  of  musketry  was  now  deafening.  The 
dying  and  the  dead  were  lying  thick  upon  the  hill 
side,  but  neither  army  seemed  to  waver.  The  con 
fusion  attending  the  getting  of  troops  into  action 
had  ceased.  The  great  "  dance  of  death"  seemed 
to  be  going  forward  without  a  motion.  The  -only 
evidence  of  life  on  that  gory  field,  was  the  vomiting 
forth  of  flame  and  smoke  from  thousands  of  well- 
aimed  muskets.  From  that  blue  column,  which 
rolled  and  tumbled  in  its  ascent  from  the  battle-field, 
the  unerring  bullet  sped  on  its  errand  of  death. 
But  other  regiments  are  seen  coming  to  the  rescue. 
The  right  wing  of  the  gallant  Eighth  Ohio  takes 
position  on  the  left,  followed  by  the  no  less  gallant 
Thirteenth  and  Fourteenth  Indiana,  Fifth  and  Sixty- 
seventh  Ohio,  and  Eighty-fourth  Pennsylvania. 
These  regiments  opened  a  heavy  fire,  which  was 
replied  to  by  the  enemy  in  gallant  style. 

The  battle  now  raged  fiercely  until  near  night, 
when  the  enemy  began  to  show  signs  of  giving 
way.  At  this  the  Union  forces  advanced  a  little, 
at  the  same  time  delivering  their  fire  with  accuracy. 


A    RECORD.  103 

As  the  shades  of  evening  deepened  into  night,  the 
enemy  began  to  fall  back.  At  this  crisis,  Colonel 
Kimball  ordered  a  charge  along  the  whole  line, 
when  the  retreat  became  a  rout.  In  their  flight, 
the  enemy  left  in  front  of  the  Third  brigade  two 
pieces  of  artillery  and  four  caissons. 

That  night  the  Seventh  bivouacked  on  the  spot 
now  made  historic  by  its  gallantry.  The  wounded 
were  being  brought  in  all  night  long,  while  the 
dead  were  lying  in  heaps  around  us,  their  increas 
ing  distortions  and  ghastliness  adding  new  horrors 
to  the  battle-field. 

At  early  dawn  the  next  day,  we  were  ready 
to  renew  the  work  of  blood  and  carnage :  but 

O        ' 

there  was  no  occasion ;  the  victory  of  the  day 
before  was  complete,  the  rebels  had  no  desire  of 
renewing  the  contest.  They  gave  the  advancing 
column  a  few  parting  salutes  from  a  battery,  and  then 
beat  a  hasty  retreat.  "We  followed  them  that  day 
to  Cedar  Run,  where  just  at  night  a  slight  skirmish 
occurred,  with  some  loss  to  the  rebels.  The  follow 
ing  day  the  Union  forces  occupied  Strasburg,  when 
the  pursuit  ceased. 


104  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 


CIIAPTEE  XII. 

GENEBAL  SHIELDS'   ANXIETY  FOE  LATTRELS. — SUMMING  TIP  OF 
THE  BATTLE. — LOSSES  IN  THE  SEVENTH. 

AFTER  the  battle  of  Winchester,  General  Shields 
showed  a  disposition  to  appropriate  the  laurels  won 
by  others  to  himself.  In  a  letter  to  a  friend  at 
Washington,  he  claimed  that,  after  the  reconnois- 
sance  to  Strasburg,  on  the  18th,  he  fell  back  hur 
riedly,  for  the  purpose  of  deceiving  the  enemy  into 
the  belief  that  his  force  was  small ;  and  that  after 
arriving  at  Winchester,  he  moved  his  division 
beyond  the  town,  so  as  to  create  the  belief  in  the 
minds  of  the  citizens  that  most  of  his  force  had 
been  sent  away.  Now  the  fact  is,  this  reconnois- 
sance  was  greatly  the  result  of  accident.  The  orig 
inal  design  of  it  was  to  capture  the  enemy's 
advance ;  this  failing,  the  force  proceeded  to  Stras 
burg  for  the  purpose  of  discovering  whether  or  not 
the  enemy  was  in  force  in  the  vicinity.  It  was 
clearly  shown  by  this  advance,  what  was  afterwards 
well  known,  that  nothing  but  a  small  cavalry  force 
occupied  Strasburg,  and  that  Jackson  was  some 
distance  up  the  valley.  The  hurried  march  of  the 


A    EECOKD.  105 

division  back  to  Winchester,  was  also  the  result  of 
accident.  The  command  marched  left  in  front, 
which  brought  a  regiment  in  the  advance  whose 
colonel  cared  little  for  the  comfort  of  his  men  ; 
hence  the  rapid  march.  Shields  reached  Win 
chester  in  advance  of  the  command,  having  gone 
on  before.  After  our  return  there  was  no  change* 
of  position,  as  our  tents  had  not  been  disturbed, 
and  we  reoccupied  them  as  they  were  before 
leaving.  If  Jackson  was  deceived,  the  credit  of 
it  is  not  due  to  Shields,  for  he  was  confident  to  the 
very  last  that  there  was  no  other  force  in  his  front 
than  Ashby.  Even  as  late  as  Sunday  noon,  when 
in  reality  the  battle  had  begun,  he  ridiculed  the 
idea  of  Colonel  Kimball  calling  for  so  many  troops, 
remarking,  that  "  Kimball  wanted  more  troops 
than  was  necessary  for  the  force  in  front  of  him." 
He  also  boastfully  said,  that  "  Jackson  knew  him, 
and  was  afraid  of  him.'7 

His  friends  tried  to  make  it  appear  that  it  was 
by  his  direction  that  the  troops  were  manoeuvred 
on  the  field  of  battle.  Now  the  fact  is,  he  was  four 
miles  away,  and  in  such  a  condition  from  a  wound 
that  he  compelled  one  of  the  best  surgeons  of  the 
division  to  remain  with  him  till  long  after  the  bat 
tle,  against  the  request  of  the  medical  director,  who 
represented  to  him,  in  the  most  earnest  manner, 

that  the  wounded  were   suffering  for  the  want  of 

5* 


106       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT  : 

medical  attention.  In  thus  retaining  a  surgeon  for 
his  own  purpose,  while  the  wounded  were  suffering 
for  medical  aid,  he  was  criminal  in  the  extreme. 
He  committed  an  offence  which  ought  to  have  de 
prived  him  of  his  commission. 

Colonel  Kimball  was  mainly  instrumental  in 
achieving  the  victory,  assisted,  of  course,  by  those 
under  his  command.  The  skilful  manner,  how 
ever,  in  which  the  troops  were  managed  was  en 
tirely  due  to  him ;  and  the  authorities  regarded  it 
in  that  light,  for  he  was  immediately  made  a  brig 
adier-general,  as  were  both  Tyler  and  Sullivan. 

The  number  of  rebel  forces  engaged  in  the  bat 
tle  of  Winchester  has  been  variously  estimated. 
They  probably  numbered  sixteen  regiments  of 
infantry,  four  full  batteries  of  artillery,  together 
with  one  of  four  guns ;  in  the  aggregate,  twenty- 
eight  pieces  and  three  battalions  of  cavalry,  under 
Ash  by  and  Stewart ; — in  all,  eleven  thousand  men 
The  Union  forces  consisted  of  thirteen  regiments 
of  infantry,  four  full  batteries  of  artillery  and  a 
section ;  in  the  aggregate,  twenty-six  pieces,  and  a 
battalion  of  cavalry; — in  all,  nine  thousand  men. 

The  rebel  army  was  the  attacking  force,  yet  the 
engagement  between  the  infantry  was  on  ground 
of  their  own  choosing,  by  reason  of  the  Third 
brigade  charging  one  of  their  batteries.  It  was 
in  the  vicinity  of  this  battery,  which  was  at  least 


A     KECOBD.  107 

a  mile  in  advance  of  our  selected  line  of  battle, 
that  the  fighting  occurred  which  turned  the  tide 
of  battle.  At  this  point  the  enemy  had  every 
advantage  of  position.  He  was  securely  posted 
behind  a  stone  wall,  and  in  a  belt  of  timber  ex 
tending  along  a  ridge  ;  while  our  forces  were  com 
pelled  to  advance  across  a  plain  exposed  to  a  gall 
ing  fire  from  infantry  and  artillery  ;  and  it  was  not 
until  they  arrived  within  eighty  yards  of  his  line 
that  any  thing  like  a  fair  ground  could  be  obtained. 
Jackson,  the  famous  commander  of  the  no-less 
famous,  "  stone-wall  brigade,"  a  sobriquet  it  had 
obtained  at  Bull  Kun,  was  fairly  beaten ;  and  that, 
too,  by  a  force  without  a  general,  and  of  inferior 
numbers.  The  victory  was  so  complete,  that  the 
enemy  left  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  dead  on 
the  field.  Their  killed  and  wounded  amounted 
to  nearly  nine  hundred,  while  their  loss  in  prison 
ers  was  upwards  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  :  adding 
stragglers  and  deserters  to  these  figures,  and  it  will 
swell  the  number  to  about  two  thousand.  The 
Fifth  Virginia  rebel  regiment  was  nearly  annihi 
lated  :  there  was  hardly  sufficient  of  it  left  to  pre 
serve  its  organization. 

The  loss  to  the  Seventh  was  fourteen  killed  and 
fifty-one  wounded :  but  few  were  taken  prisoners, 
and  those  by  accident.  The  following  is  the  list : 

Killed.— Orderly-Sergeant  A.  C.  Danforth ;  Cor- 


108        THE  SEVENTH  EEGIMENT: 

poral  A.  C.  Griswold ;  privates,  Charles  Stern, 
James  Carroll,  James  Creiglow,  Allen  C.  Lamb, 
Stephen  W.  Rice,  E.  G.  Sackett,  Reuben  Bnrnham, 
Louis  Carven,  Eli  as  Hall,  John  Fram,  Fred.  Groth, 
James  Bish. 

Wounded. — Captain  J.  F.  Asper ;  Lieutenant 
Samuel  McClelland ;  Sergeant-Major  J.  P.  Webb, 
and  Sergeant  A.  J.  Kelly,  mortally ;  sergeants,  A. 
H.  Fitch,  E.  M.  Lazonny ;  corporals,  Ed.  Kelley, 
William  Saddler,  Geo.  Blandin,  William  E.  Smith, 
Benjamin  Gridley ;  privates,  Fred.  Hoffman,  Daniel 
Clancey,  Leander  Campbell,  Joseph  Miller,  Hamp 
ton  Gardner,  Arthur  Lappin,  Thomas  Fresher, 
Duncan  Reid,  Joseph  Smith,  Albert  E.  Withers, 
Charles  Fagan,  O.  H.  Worcester,  W.  Col  em  an, 
Stephen  Kellogg,  John  Gardner,  F.  M.  Palmer, 
F.  A.  Warner,  Daniel  Kingsbury,  Richard  Winsor, 
John  Milliman,  John  Atwater,  Geo.  Anness,  Fred. 
Bethel,  Charles  W.  Minnick,  Moses  Owens,  Arba 
Pritchell,  Edward  Thompson,  Edward  E.  Tracy,  A. 
A.  Cavanaha,  S.  Bishop,  Owen  Gregory,  James 
Hunt,  W.  McClurg,  H.  M.  McQuiston,  D.  O'Con- 
ner,  P.  Tenny,  Richard  Phillips,  T.  B.  Danon,  Wm. 
Birch,  Henry  Clemens. 


A    RECORD.  109 


CHAPTEE  XIII. 

PUESUIT  OF  JACKSON  TTP  THE  YALLET. — MAECH  TO  FEEDER- 
IOKSBUEG,  AND  BETUEN  TO  FEONT  EOYAL. 

ABOUT  the  1st  of  April  the  command  left  Stras- 
burg,  under  command  of  General  Banks,  driving  the 
rear-guard  of  the  enemy  through  the  little  village  of 
Woodstock,  and  taking  a  position  on  the  banks  of 
Stoney  Creek,  four  miles  beyond  the  latter  place.  It 
remained  here  until  the  17th,  during  which  time  the 
enemy  kept  up  an  artillery  fire  across  the  creek, 
which  resulted  in  the  killing  of  several  men  in  the 
division  of  General  "Williams. 

On  the  morning  of  the  17th  the  command  crossed 
the  creek,  and  stormed  the  enemy's  battery  on  the 
opposite  shore.  The  early  dawn  was  brightening  up 
the  eastern  horizon  with  tints  of  red ;  and,  as  the 
command  emerged  from  the  bridge,  and  ascended 
the  steep  hill  beyond,  their  bayonets  glistened  and 
sparkled.  After  firing  one  volley,  the  rebels  fled  in 
haste,  leaving  the  Federal  forces  to  advance  without 
opposition.  After  falling  back  beyond  the  north 
branch  of  the  Shenandoah  River,  they  made  a  stand, 


110       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 

and  endeavored  to  burn  the  bridge,  but  were  pre 
vented  by  the  Union  cavalry.  A  flank  movement 
being  ordered,  and  partly  executed,  the  rebels  again 
abandoned  their  position.  The  Federals  now  pressed 
on  to  within  a  short  distance  of  New  Market,  where 
they  encamped. 

Here  the  command  remained  ten  days,  when  it 
moved  two  miles  south  of  the  town,  and  on  the  3d 
of  May  advanced  to  within  a  few  miles  of  Harrison- 
burg,  but  on  the  following  day  fell  back  about  five 
miles  to  a  good  defensive  position. 

The  tents  were  now  ordered  to  be  turned  over  to 
the  quartermaster  ;  and  on  the  following  Monday  we 
wound  our  way  through  Brook's  Gap,  in  the  Massa- 
nutten  Mountains,  towards  the  smoky  tops  of  the 
Blue  Ridge,  and  thus  leaving  forever  the  beautiful 
valley  of  the  north  branch  of  the  Shenandoah.  To 
wards  evening  we  crossed  the  south  branch  of  the 
same  river  at  Columbia  Bridge,  and  moved  on  in 
the  direction  of  Luray,  encamping  near  that  place 
The  next  morning  the  command  moved  on  down 
the  river  until  night,  when  it  encamped.  In  the 
evening  a  hard  rain-storm  came  up,  which  continued 
for  several  days.  In  early  evening  of  the  following 
day  the  command  reached  Front  Royal,  a  small 
village  situated  at  the  base  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  near 
the  junction  of  the  two  branches  of  the  Shenandoah 
River.  The  following  morning  we  crossed  the  Blue 


A     EECOED.  Ill 

Ridge,  and  immediately  encountered  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  which  annoyed  us  for  several  days.  On 
the  iTth  we  arrived  at  Warrenton,  a  delightful  vil 
lage  in  Fauquier  County.  We  remained  in  this 
camp  until  Monday  morning,  when  we  again  took 
the  line  of  march  for  Fredericksburg.  We  reached 
Falmouth,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Eappahannock 
River,  on  the  23d  of  May.  The  corps  of  McDowell 
was  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  numbering  thirty 
thousand  men,  and  one  hundred  pieces  of  artillery. 

When  we  arrived  on  the  Eappahannock,  we 
learned  that  this  force  of  McDowell's,  now  number 
ing  forty-one  thousand  men,  was  ordered  down  to 
Richmond,  to  form  a  junction  with  the  right  wing 
of  the  grand  army  under  McClellan.  There  were 
then  only  about  twelve  thousand  of  the  enemy  in 
front  of  Fredericksburg.  It  was  about  fifty  miles 
to  the  extreme  right  of  the  army  in  front  of  Rich 
mond. 

On  Saturday  the  President  and  secretary  of  war 
came  down  for  the  purpose  of  arranging  the  details. 
Shields'  division  was  greatly  in  need  of  shoes  and 
clothing,  while  the  ammunition  for  the  artillery  had 
been  condemned,  and  another  supply,  which  had 
been  ordered,  had  been  very  much  delayed.  It  was 
therefore  arranged  that  the  force  should  start  early 
on  Monday  morning,  both  the  President  and  Mc 
Dowell  being  averse  to  starting  on  Sunday. 


112       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 

That  evening  the  President  and  secretary  of  war 
left  for  Washington.  Yery  soon  after,  General 
McDowell  received  a  telegram,  to  the  effect  that 
Jackson  was  making  a  raid  down  the  Shenandoah 
Yalley,  with  a  prospect  of  crushing  the  forces  under 
General  Banks.  Soon  after  this  dispatch,  another 
arrived  from  the  secretary  of  war,  by  order  of  the 
President,  containing  instructions  to  send  a  division 
after  Jackson.  Here  was  the  fatal  blow  to  the 
campaign  against  Richmond.  McDowell  promptly 
ordered  General  Shields'  division  to  move,  and  at 
the  same  time  telegraphed  the  President  that  it  was 
a  fatal  blow  to  them  all. 

Little  things  control  momentous  events.  Jack 
son's  army  of  twenty  thousand  veterans  checkmated 
an  army  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  men. 
In  defending  Washington,  we  lost  Eichmond  ;  but 
Jackson  risked  his  own  communication  to  break 
ours.  Results  more  than  realized  his  expectations. 
Without  risk  there  is  little  gain.  Jackson  adopted 
this  adage  into  his  tactics,  and  endangered  his  army 
to  save  it.  Events  proved  his  sagacity. 

In  time  of  war  the  capital  of  a  country,  unless  far 
removed  from  the  seat  of  war,  is  in  the  way.  The 
City  of  Washington  was  a  fatality.  It  stood  between 
the  army  and  victory.  Jackson  knew  this,  and 
profited  by  it.  When  this  general  menaced  Wash 
ington,  our  army  let  go  its  hold  on  the  Confederacy, 


A     KECOBD.  113 

to  make  it  doubly  safe.  Tlie  campaign  against 
Richmond  was  abandoned,  but  Washington  was 
endangered  still.  The  valleys  and  swamps  of  the 
Chickahominy  were  paved  with  the  bodies  of  heroes 
— the  little  rivulets  were  swollen  with  the  best  blood 
of  the  land — an  army  of  cripples  were  given  to 
charity  ;— and  for  what  ?  That  the  City  of  Wash 
ington  might  be  safe.  We  have  since  then  fought 
the  ground  over  again  from  Washington  to  Rich 
mond  ;  another  graveyard  has  been  planted  ;  and 
this  time  for  a  purpose.  Washington  has  been  set 
aside  by  the  new  commander,  and  Richmond  made 
the  objective  point. 


THE    SEVENTH    EEGIMENT  I 


CHAPTEE  XIY. 

THE  MAEOH  ON  WAYNESBOEO'. — Two  BEIGADES  ENCOUNTER 
JACKSON  AT  POET  REPUBLIC,  AND  AFTEE  FIVE  HOUES' 
FIGHTING  AEE  COMPELLED  TO  FALL  BACK. 

NEARLY  the  entire  corps  of  General  McDowell 
followed  the  division  of  General  Shields.  The  latter 
took  the  direction  of  Manassas  Junction,  and  from 
there  passed  down  the  railroad,  through  Manassas 
Gap,  arriving  at  Front  Royal  on  Friday  noon,  after 
a  sharp  engagement  with  a  small  force  of  rebels. 

Soon  after,  Shields  stationed  one  brigade  on  the 
Luray  road,  another  to  watch  the  fords  of  the  Shen- 
andoah,  another  was  sent  out  on  the  Strasburg  road, 
while  the  remaining  one  occupied  the  town.  On 
McDowell's  arrival,  Shields,  with  his  entire  division, 
was  ordered  out  on  the  road  to  Strasburg,  for  the 
purpose  of  intercepting  the  retreat  of  the  enemy. 
But,  instead  of  taking  the  road  which  he  was 
ordered  to  take,  he  crossed  over  the  north  branch 
of  the  Shenandoah  River  on  the  road  to  Winchester. 
It  then  being  too  late  to  repair  the  mischief,  and 
get  ahead  of  Jackson,  SMelds  was  permitted  to  «go 
in  the  direction  of  Luray,  and  follow  up  Jackson  as 


A    RECORD.  115 

far  as  he  thought  advisable,  with  the  single  instruc 
tion,  that,  in  no  event,  should  his  division  be  sepa 
rated  ;  so  that  each  brigade  would  be  in  supporting 
distance  of  all  the  others. 

On  the  second  day  we  arrived  in  the  vicinity  of 
Columbia  Bridge,  and  pitched  our  tents  for  the 
purpose,  as  we  supposed,  of  enjoying  a  night's  rest ; 
but  towards  evening  an  order  was  received  to  fall 
back  six  miles.  Arriving  at  this  new  camp,  we 
again  pitched  our  tents;  but  just  at  dark  we  re 
ceived  an  order  to  move  forward  to  the  camp  we 
had  but  just  left.  We  arrived  about  midnight,  and 
slept  on  the  ground  ;  thus  wasting  the  strength  of 
the  command  in  a  needless  march  of  twelve  miles. 

On  the  following  morning,  June  7th,  the  Third 
brigade,  by  an  order  to  move  on  "Waynesboro', 
took  up  the  line  of  march,  arriving  in  early  evening 
on  the  banks  of  Naked  Creek,  where  it  went  into 
camp.  Colonel  Carroll's  Second  brigade  had  passed 
over  the  road  some  time  before. 

The  command  had  nothing  but  flour  and  beef  for 
supper,  and  nothing  for  breakfast  on  the  following 
morning ;  but  being  assured  that  some  hard  bread 
was  in  waiting,  some  six  miles  ahead,  it  cheerfully 
pressed  forward  at  four  o'clock  A.  M.;  and  at  about 
two  o'clock  the  same  day,  reached  the  vicinity  of 
Port  Republic,  where  Colonel  Carroll's  brigade  had 
met  with  a  repulse  the  day  before. 


116       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT J 

Port  Republic  is  situated  at  the  junction  of  two 
forks  of  the  south  branch  of  the  Shenandoah  River. 
Jackson's  whole  army  was  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
place,  the  most  of  it  occupying  the  west  bank  of 
the  river.  In  rear  of  Jackson's  position,  at  Cross 
Keys,  were  General  Fremont's  forces.  At  the  latter 
place,  on  the  previous  day,  Fremont  had  defeated 
Jackson,  with  heavy  loss  to  the  latter. 

Jackson  having  thus  failed  to  beat  back  Fremont, 
was  compelled  to  cross  the  river  at  Port  Republic, 
and,  defeating  Shields'  command,  pass  through  a 
gap  in  the  mountain  to  Gordonsville. 

When  General  Tyler's  command  arrived  on  the 
field,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Daurn,  chief  of  artillery, 
advised  an  immediate  attack  ;  but  the  general 
wisely  concluded  to  await  the  order  of  General 
Shields.  Selecting  a  good  position  for  defence,  the 
command  bivouacked  for  the  night. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  June  9th,  the  enemy 
was  seen  to  debouch  into  the  plain  in  our  front, 
when  our  artillery,  under  Captains  Clark,  Robinson, 
and  Huntington,  opened  a  heavy  fire  upon  him. 
This  force  moved  into  the  woods  on  our  left,  and 
passing  up  a  spur  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  threw  them 
selves  rapidly  forward,  with  a  view  of  turning  that 
wing  of  the  army.  Two  companies  of  skirmishers 
and  two  regiments  of  infantry  were  sent  into  the 
woods  to  counteract  this  movement.  The  skirmish- 


A    RECORD.  117 

ers  having  become  warmly  engaged,  two  more 
regiments  were  sent  forward  to  their  support.  The 
enemy  now  abandoned  his  intention,  and  coming 
out  of  the  woods,  swept  across  the  field  to  our  right, 
uniting  with  a  column  which  was  advancing  to  the 
attack. 

During  this  time,  the  Seventh  was  supporting  a 
section  of  Huntington's  Battery.  This  new  move 
ment  was  directed  against  the  position  occupied  by 
it.  When  arriving  within  range  of  the  guns,  the 
enemy  charged.  The  regiment  reserved  its  fire 
until  the  rebel  column  approached  within  easy 
range,  when,  by  order  of  Colonel  Creighton,  the 
regiment,  which  had  hitherto  been  concealed  by 
the  "tall  spires  of  wheat,  rose  to  its  feet,  and  de 
livered  its  fire.  This  shower  of  lead  made  a  fearful 
gap  in  the  lines  of  the  advancing  column.  It  stag 
gered,  and  finally  halted.  The  Seventh  now 
plunged  into  the  midst  of  the  foe,  when  an  awful 
scene  of  carnage  followed.  After  a  short  struggle, 
the  enemy  was  pressed  back,  followed  by  the 
exultant  victors.  The  Fifth  and  Twenty-ninth  Ohio 
regiments  did  gallant  service  in  this  charge.  When 
the  enemy  had  been  pressed  back  for  half  a  mile, 
the  column  halted,  reformed,  and  then  fell  back  to 
its  old  position. 

The  enemy  now  made  a  furious  attack  on  the 
extreme  right  of  the  division,  to  meet  which  the 


118       THE  SEVENTH  KEGIMENT : 

Seventh  changed  front  on  the  Fourth  company. 
The  enemy  was  soon  driven  back  in  great  confusion, 
and  with  heavy  loss.  Immediately  recovering  from 
this  temporary  check,  he  made  an  onslaught  on  the 
centre,  which  resulted  in  his  repulse,  with  greater 
loss  than  in  any  previous  attack ;  the  Fifth  Ohio 
alone  capturing  a  piece  of  artillery  and  many 
prisoners. 

During  these  operations,  the  enemy  sent  a  heavy 
column  against  our  left ;  and  debouching  from  the 
timber,  came  down  with  such  rapidity  as  to  over 
whelm  the  small  force  of  infantry  supporting  four 
guns  of  Clark's  Battery.  This  force,  endeavoring 
to  make  a  defence,  came  near  being  captured.  The 
guns,  of  course,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
The  Seventh  and  Fifth  Ohio  regiments  were  now 
directed  to  regain  the  position.  Moving  by  the 
left  flank  to  the  rear  of  the  position  under  a  heavy 
fire,  these  two  regiments  dashed  up  the  hill  and 
over  the  guns,  into  the  midst  of  the  terrified  rebels. 
Five  color-bearers  had  now  been  shot  down,  while 
advancing  as  many  rods.  Lieutenant  King  seized 
the  colors  and  pressed  forward,  followed  by  the 
regiment,  which  sent  volley  after  volley  after  the 
fugitives,  the  firing  ceasing  only  when  the  rebels 
were  covered  by  a  friendly  hill.  We  were  soon 
ordered  to  drive  them  from  this  position,  which 
was  done  in  -gallant  style,  the  command  charg- 


A    RECORD.  119 

ing  up  the  steep  sides  of  the  hill,  in  the  face  of 
the  foe. 

A  large  column  of  the  enemy  was  now  seen  ad 
vancing  from  the  bridge  to  the  scene  of  action.  It 
was  therefore  thought  advisable  by  General  Tyler 
to  withdraw  from  the  field  during  this  check  of  the 
enemy,  and  before  these  re-enforcements  could  be 
brought  into  the  contest. 

This  movement  was  executed  under  the  direction 
of  Colonel  Carroll ;  and,  with  few  exceptions,  the 
retreat  was  as  orderly  as  the  advance. 

After  falling  back  some  miles,  we  met  the  balance 
of  the  command  under  General  Shields,  who  assum 
ed  the  direction  of  the  forces.  Eighteen  miles  from 
the  battle-field,  the  command  halted  for  the  night ; 
and,  on  the  third  day,  reached  the  vicinity  of  Luray, 
where  it  went  into  camp. 

The  importance  of  this  engagement  has  been  un 
derrated.  Great  and  beneficial  results  to  the  Union 
army  would  have  followed  a  victory  ;  as  it  was,  a 
great  disaster  succeeded.  The  impetuous  Jackson 
having  thus"  prevented  McDowell's  forces  from 
uniting  with  the  grand  army,  dashed  down  in  front 
of  Richmond,  and  hurling  his  army  against  the 
right  wing  of  McClellan,  gave  the  Federal  army  its 
first  check,  which  finally  resulted  in  its  overthrow. 
McClellan  expecting  McDowell,  received  Jackson. 
Had  the  former  formed  a  junction  with  him,  the 


120       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT! 

grand  army  would  have  entered  Richmond;  but 
receiving  Jackson,  it  entered  Washington.  This 
failure  to  intercept  Jackson  was  due  to  General 
Shields'  disobedience  of  orders.  His  entire  division 
should  have  been  on  the  ground  on  Sunday,  or  none 
of  it ;  and  on  its  arrival,  he  should  have  burned  the 
bridge :  then  the  capture  of  Jackson  would  have 
been  rendered  probable,  but,  as  events  occurred,  it 
was  impossible.  A  part  of  the  division  not  being 
in  supporting  distance,  rendered  the  burning  of  the 
bridge  a  necessity ;  but  Shields  regarded  it  differ 
ently.  His  order  to  save  the  bridge  was  the  ex 
treme  of  folly.  To  make  himself  a  name,  he  came 
near  sacrificing  his  command.  On  Sunday,  Colonel 
Carroll's  forces  were  in  a  position  to  have  burned 
the  bridge.  Soon  after,  the  enemy  commanded  it, 
with  eighteen  pieces  of  cannon.  Early  in  the  day 
it  was  safe  to  approach  it — afterwards,  madness. 

This  bridge  in  his  possession,  gave  the  enemy  an 
opportunity  to  debouch  on  to  the  open  plain.  When 
there,  the  advance  of  Shields'  division  was  liable  to 
be  crushed.  The  preservation  of  the  bridge  ren 
dered  it  certain  that  he  would  be  there,  because  this 
plain  lay  between  him  and  safety.  To  avoid  enter 
ing  it,  was  to  surrender.  The  shrewd  Jackson 
chose  to  enter  it.  When  there,  he  turned  upon 
Tyler,  and  overwhelmed  him  ;  then  moved  oft*  at 
his  leisure.  The  defeat  of  Tyler  was  certain ;  his 


A    RECORD.  121 

escape,  marvellous.  Jackson  anticipated  an  easy 
victory,  but  met  with  a  stubborn  resistance.  This 
mistake  of  Jackson  saved  Tyler. 

When  McDowell  saw  that  the  pursuit  of  Jackson 
was  a  failure,  he  endeavored  to  collect  his  forces  at 
Fredericksburg,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  his 
original  intention  of  joining  McClellan  ;  but  Jack 
son  was  there  before  him,  and  the  grand  army  had 
been  beaten  back. 

Had  the  forces  of  Generals  Banks  and  Fremont 
been  left  to  take  care  of  Jackson,  and  thus  left 
McDowell  with  his  41,000  men  free  to  go  down  to 
Richmond,  the  labor  of  historians  would  have  been 
lessened. 

Soon  after  the  battle  of  Port  Republic,  General 
Shields  was  relieved  of  his  command.  This  order 
received  the  approbation  of  both  officers  and  men. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  killed  and  wounded  : 

Killed. — Sergeant  William  Voges  ;  corporals, 
Geo.  R.  Magary,  Julius  Ruoff,  L.  R.  Gates,  John 
II.  Woodward  ;  privates,  Adolf  Snyder,"  Romaine 
J.  Kingsbury,  John  Mulligan,  John  Reber. 

Wounded. — Captain  Geo.  L.  Wood  ;  First-lieu- 
tenarit  A.  H.  Day ;  sergeants,  Yirgil  E.  Smalley, 
Samuel  Whaler,  James  R.  Loucks  (mortally),  Chas. 
L.  King,  Win.  Lanterwasser  (mortally) ;  corporals, 
Townley  Gillett  (mortally),  Holland  B.  Fry,  Mark 

Y.  Burt,  A.  C.  Lovett,  Cyrus  H.  DeLong    A.  C. 

6 


122       THE  SEVENTH  BEGIMENT : 

Trimmer,  Charles  Knox ;  privates,  J.  H.  Burton, 
S.  E.  Buchanan,  Isaac  Maxfield,  Charles  Keller,  F. 
Keller,  Edwin  B.  Atwater,  M.  !N".  Hamilton  (mor 
tally),  Daniel  S.  Judson  (mortally),  Win.  II.  Pelton, 
Benjamin  F.  Hawkins,  Lawson  Hibbard,  James  L. 
Yancise,  John  Atwater,  Jay  Haskins,  Leroy  Chap 
man,  Sylvester  B.  Matthews,  Alfred  W.  Morley, 
Lawrence  Rename!,  George  K.  Carl,  Franklin  El- 
dridge,  George  Geyelin,  John  T.  Geary,  Ira  Herrick, 
Marion  Hoover,  W.  W.  Rogers  (mortally),  Edwin 
Woods,  Morris  Osborn,  G.  W.  Parker,  M.  Ecken- 
rode,  D.  L.  Hunt,  William  Frasher,  Anthony  Wil 
liams,  John  Smith,  James  Decker,  Michael  Camp 
bell,  Philip  Anthony,  John  Colburn,  John  Hum 
mel,  John  Luetke,  John  Schoembs,  Conrad  Som- 
mer,  John  Voelker,  Herman  Fetzer. 


A    BECOBD.  123 


CHAPTER  XT. 

BATTLE  OF  CEDAE  MOUNTAIN. — GALLANTEY  OF  THE  EEGIMENT, 
AND  TEEEIBLE  LOSS. 

AFTER  a  few  days'  rest  at  Luray,  the  regiment 
marched  to  Front  Royal,  and  soon  after  left  for 
Alexandria,  where  it  arrived  on  the  27th  of  June. 
It  went  into  camp  on  a  beautiful  hill,  just  outside 
the  fortifications. 

Remaining  in  this  camp  for  a  month,  the  regi 
ment  was  ordered  to  join  the  forces  under  McDow 
ell,  at  Warrenton.  It  arrived  there  on  the  morning 
of  June  26th,  and  soon  after  reported  to  General 
Banks,  at  Little  Washington. 

General  Tyler  had  now  been  relieved  from  duty 
with  the  Third  brigade,  and  General  Geary  placed 
in  command. 

As  early  as  the  16th  of  July,  the  advance  of  Jack 
son's  forces  was  at  Gordonsville ;  and  by  the  1st  of 
August  reached  the  vicinity  of  the  Rapidan  River. 
To  meet  this  movement,  General  Pope,  commanding 
the  Army  of  Virginia,  ordered  forward  the  corps  of 
General  Banks ;  and  on  the  8th  of  August  ordered 


124:  THE     SEVENTH     KEGIMENT: 

General  Sigel's  corps  to  Culpepper  to  co-operate 
with  Banks'  forces ;  but  Sigel,  instead  of  moving 
promptly  forward,  sent  a  courier  to  know  what 
road  he  should  take,  when  in  fact  there  was'  but 
one.  This  delayed  the  movement  of  his  corps 
for  several  hours,  so  that  it  was  impossible  to  get 
it  in  position  in  time  to  render  any  assistance  to 
the  forces  under  Banks. 

On  the  Yth  day  of  August,  Crawford's  brigade, 
of  Banks'  corps,  had  been  pushed  forward  in  the 
direction  of  Slaughter  Mountain,  to  support  General 
Bayard,  whose  brigade  of  cavalry  was  being  driven 
back  in  that  direction  by  the  enemy  ;  and  on  the 
9th,  to  support  this  movement  of  Crawford,  Banks 
was  directed  to  take  up  a  strong  position  a  short 
distance  in  his  rear.  Rickett's  division,  of  McDow 
ell's  corps,  was  posted  three  miles  in  rear  of  Banks' 
position,  and  within  easy  supporting  distance. 

Desultory  artillery  firing  was  kept  up  all  day  on 
the  9th  ;  yet  General  Banks,  apparently,  did  not 
think  the  enemy  were  in  force,  for,  during  the 
afternoon,  he  left  the  strong  position  which  he 
had  taken,  by  order  of  General  Pope,  and  ad 
vanced  to  assault  the  enemy,  believing  that  he 
could  crush  his  advance  before  the  main  body 
came  up. 

The  enemy  was  strongly  posted,  and  sheltered 
by  woods  and  ridges ;  while  Banks  had  to  pass 


A    EECOED.  125 

over  an  open  field,  which  was  swept  by  the  fire 
of  the  enemy  thus  concealed. 

The  intention  of  Jackson,  in  this  advance,  was 
to  crush  a  detachment  of  Pope's  army  before  the 
balance  could  come  to  its  support.  Banks,  in  thus 
advancing  to  the  assault,  aided  him  in  his  design, 
which  otherwise  would  have  been  an  entire  failure. 

Cedar  Mountain,  the  position  occupied  by  Jack 
son,  is  thus  described :  "  The  mountain  is  one 
of  remarkable  beauty.  At  a  distance  of  four  or 
five  miles  from  its  base  it  seems  to  rise  like  a 
perfect  cone  from  the  plain  below,  and  from  its 
base  to  its  summit  scarcely  a  deflection  is  to  be 
observed  in  its  outline  form — a  perfectly  straight 
line,  as  if  nature  had  formed  it  in  the  same  manner 
that  school-boys  form  sand-hills.  The  sides  of  the 
mountain  are  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  tim 
ber  :  its  summit  is  reached  by  a  poor  road.  The 
height  of  the  summit  is,  perhaps,  eight  hundred 
feet  above  Cedar  Creek." 

Early  in  the  day  of  the  9th,  General  Geary's 
brigade  was  sent  to  hold  Telegraph  Hill,  from 
which  our  signal-officers  had  been  driven.  To 
approach  this  hill  was  sure  slaughter;  but  the 
veteran  brigade  moved  on,  through  a  storm  of 
shot  and  shell,  and  occupied  the  position. 

Thirty  pieces  of  cannon  on  our  side,  and  as  many 
on  the  side  of  the  enemy,  were  belching  forth  their 


126  THE    SEVENTH    KEGIMENT  I 

fire.  There  was  no  part  of  the  Federal  lines  but 
that  was  swept  by  this  fire. 

A  little  after  three  o'clock  the  Seventh  Regiment 
was  ordered  over  the  crest  of  the  hill,  into  a  corn 
field  beyond.  While  advancing  to  this  position,  a 
most  terrific  cannonade  was  directed  against  it.  It 
seemed  as  if  every  cannon  was  being  directed  against 
this  band  of  heroes  ;  but  it  never  faltered  in  this 
march  of  death,  moving  coolly  on,  regardless  of 
the  missiles  that  were  tearing  through  its  bleeding 
ranks.  Comrades  were  falling,  and  brothers  dying; 
the  mangled,  bleeding  victims  of  the  fury  and  vio 
lence  of  war  were  left  thick,  making  the  ground 
sacred  on  which  they  fell  ;  but  the  line  wavered 
not.  Reaching  a  low  place,  the  regiment  halted, 
and  the  boys  threw  themselves  upon  the  ground  ; 
and  thus  for  a  long  hour  they  lay,  in  an  open  field, 
exposed  to  a  hot  sun,  with  a  hail-storm  of  grape, 
canister,  and  shell  falling  thick  and  fast  around 
them.  Men  gave  up  their  lives  so  gently,  that  it 
was  almost  impossible  to  tell  the  living  from  the 
dead.  The  fatal  missile  struck  its  victim,  leaving 
the  lifeless  clay  in  the  same  attitude  which  the  liv 
ing  body  but  just  before  occupied.  During  that 
fatal  period  death  assumed  a  real  character,  while 
life  seemed  but  a  dream. 

The  engagement  had  now  become  general.  The 
brigade  of  General  Prince  had  advanced  on  the  left 


A    KECORD.  127 

of  Geary,  occupying  the  prolongation  of  the  line. 
Artillery  replied  to  artillery,  musketry  to  musketry, 
bayonet  to  bayonet,  in  this  deadly  strife.  Daring 
warmed  into  rashness,  and  bravery  into  reckless 
ness. 

About  four  o'clock  the  regiment  was  ordered  into 
a  meadow,  which  position  it  promptly  occupied, 
although  the  fire  had  not  slackened,  and  carnage 
marked  its  advance.  After  dressing  the  lines,  the 
regiment  opened  fire ;  and  there  it  stood  without  a 
support,  facing,  in  a  death-struggle,  three  times  its 
number.  The  fiery  Creighton  received  a  wound 
which  compelled  him  to  leave  the  field.  The  noble 
Crane  was  disabled ;  and  the  brave  Molyneaux,  for 
the  moment,  took  command.  Seeing  the  regiment 
nearly  surrounded,  and  exposed  to  an  enfilading 
fire,  which  was  fast  thinning  the  ranks,  he  ordered 
it  to  retreat ;  but  heroic  young  Clarkey,  mistaking 
it  for  an  order  to  charge,  dashed  gallantly  forward, 
at  the  head  of  his  command.  After  understanding 
the  order,  he  had  barely  time  to  fall  back  before  the 
wings  of  the  rebel  host  closed  in. 

Slowly  and  sadly  the  remaining  few  of  the  regi 
ment  fell  back,  keeping  their  faces  to  the  foe.  Only 
one  hundred  and  sixteen,  out  of  three  hundred  and 
seven,  returned  to  the  rear  unhurt ;  and  many  of 
these  were  disabled  from  service  by  severe  ex 
posure  to  the  intense  heat  of  the  sun,  and  lack  of 


128  THE    SEVENTH    EEGIMENT: 

water.  The  regiment  retired  to  a  hill,  and  was  not 
again  brought  into  action  during  the  afternoon. 
At  night,  however,  it  was  ordered  out  on  picket. 
After  advancing  to  Cedar  Creek  it  was  challenged, 
and  no  one  answering,  it  received  a  terrible  volley 
from  the  front  and  both  flanks.  It  fell  back  to  the 
cover  of  a  piece  of  woods,  and  finally  to  the  rear, 
about  a  mile,  where  it  bivouacked. 

As  night  settled  upon  this  field  of  carnage, 
Banks'  entire  corps  withdrew  to  the  position  it  oc 
cupied  early  in  the  day  ;  but  the  artillery  kept  up% 
an  intermittent  fire  until  near  midnight.  General 
Jackson,  from  his  mountain-top,  could  see  every 
movement  of  troops,  and  was  enabled  to  calculate 
just  how  long  it  would  take  to  re-enforce  General 
Banks.  Had  he  not  been  so  imprudent  as  to  come 
clown  from  his  mountain  fastness,  and  attack  the 
Federal  forces  after  night,  his  loss  would  have  been 
comparatively  little.  But  as  Banks  retired,  he 
moved  twelve  thousand  men  on  to  the  battle-field, 
and  kept  them  there  during  the  night ;  at  the  same 
time  advancing  one  battery  through  the  woods  into 
the  open  field  beyond  the  battle-ground.  From 
this  position  it  opened  on  the  division  of  Union 
troops  occupying  the  advance.  As  soon  as  the 
first  flash  of  his  guns  was  seen,  Major  Davis,  chief 
of  artillery  in  McDowell's  corps,  ordered  two  bat 
teries  into  position,  and  opened  on  the  enemy. 


A    RECCED.  129 

These  batteries,  being  very  close,  and  getting  good 
range,  did  fearful  havoc  among  the  rebels.  It  is 
said  that  General  Hartsuff  sighted  one  of  the  guns 
that  did  the  most  execution.  After  the  battery  had 
retired,  Major  Davis'  guns  shelled  the  battle-field. 
The  enemy  being  massed  in  small  space,  this  fire 
told  fearfully  on  their  ranks.  After  firing  about 
one  hundred  shells,  and  the  enemy  not  responding, 
Major  Davis  ordered  his  guns  silenced,  little  dream 
ing  that  he  had  left  more  dead  rebels  on  the  field 
than  all  the  random  artillery  firing  of  the  afternoon. 

Many  deeds  of  daring  were  performed  at  this 
battle.  Captain  Ash,  of  General  Pope's  staff, 
riding  up  to  a  battery  with  an  order  from  the  gen 
eral  to  stop  firing,  saw  that  it  was  a  rebel  battery  ; 
he,  however,  had  sufficient  presence  of  mind  to  give 
the  order,  and  ride  off.  It  was  obeyed ;  the  battery 
ceased  to  fire,  and  soon  after  moved  off.  Captain 
Ball,  of  McDowell's  staff,  did  the  same  thing,  and 
with  a  like  result. 

The  following  incident  is  from  the  pen  of  a  cor 
respondent  of  an  Eastern  paper  : 

"  Just  after  the  firing  of  musketry  became  in 
teresting,  I  noticed  a  private  soldier  coming  off  the 
field,  and  thinking  perhaps  he  was  running  away 
to  avoid  danger,  I  rode  up  to  him,  when  I  found  he 
had  two  fingers  of  his  left  hand  shot  away,  and  a 

third  dreadfully  lacerated.     I  saw  at  once  that  he 

6* 


130  THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 

had  at  least  a  hand  in  the  fight.  I  assisted  him  to 
dress  his  wound  as  well  as  my  limited  knowledge 
of  surgery  would  permit,  he,  in  the  mean  time, 
propping  up  my  pluck  by  his  quaint  remarks. 
Said  he  :  1 1  don't  care  a  darn  for  that  third  finger, 
for  it  warn't  of  no  account,  no  how ;  but  the 
4  pinter,'  and  t'other  one,  were  right  good  'uns,  and 
I  hate  to  lose  'em.  I  shouldn't  have  come  to  the 
rear,  if  I  had  been  able  to  load  my  gun  ;  but  I 
wasn't.'  After  I  had  dressed  his  hand,  he  looked* 
over  in  the  direction  of  the  firing,  and  stood  a  mo 
ment.  Turning  to  me,  he  said  :  '  Stranger,  I  wish 
you  would  just  load  up  my  shooting-iron  for  me  ;  I 
want  to  have  a  little  satisfaction  out  of  them  cusses 
for  spiling  my  fore  paw.'  I  loaded  his  gun  for 
him,  and  he  started  back  for  the  top  of  the  hill  at 
a  double-quick,  in  quest  of  satisfaction.  His  name 
is  Lapham,  of  the  Ohio  Seventh." 

During  the  action,  General  Banks  was  leaning 
against  a  tree,  when  a  cannon-ball  struck  it  about 
eighteen  .  inches  above  his  head,  passing  entirely 
through.  It  has  been  his  singular  fortune  to  meet 
with  nrany  narrow  escapes.  While  riding  through 
Winchester,  on  his  retreat  before  Jackson,  a  rebel, 
from  a  window  above,  took  deliberate  aim  at  him, 
but  was  shot  by  a  private  of  a  Massachusetts  regi 
ment  before  he  could  fire. 

The  loss  to  the  regiment  in  this  engagement  was 


A    RECORD.  131 

very  heavy,  and  shows  with  what  determination  it 
maintained  the  contest.  It  went  into  the  engage 
ment  with  three  hundred  and  seven,  rank  and  file, 
and  came  out  with  a  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  of 
one  hundred  and  ninety-one, — a  loss  of  more  than 
sixty-two  per  cent. 

The  following  is  the  list : 

Killed. — Lieutenants,  James  P.  Brisbine,  Joseph 
Eoss,  Frank  Johnson ;  sergeants,  C.  P.  Bowler, 
Moses  Martin  ;  corporals,  J.  J.  Evans,  D.  W. 
Wright ;  privates,  Joseph  T.  Blackwell,  William 
Adams,  Edward  Bui-net,  E.  S.  Shepherd,  Charles 
G.  Hettinger,  Charles  Masters,  Benjamin  F.  Gill, 
li.  F.  Dinger,  II.  Plight,  John  J.  Hen  slier,  Henry 
C.  Case,  M.  Eckenroad,  K  PL  McClurg,  C.  C. 
Miller,  G.  B.  S  wisher,  E.  Fox,  James  Stephenson, 
Alvin  II.  Benton,  John  Manning,  Michael  Waldof, 
James  Ray,  Frank  Miller,  John  Weeland. 

Wounded. — Colonel  William  E.  Creighton,  Lieut.- 
Colonel  O.  J.  Crane,  Adjutant  J.  B.  Molyneaux, 
Captain  William  E.  Sterling;  lieutenants,  Henry 
B.  Eaton,  W.  D.  Braden,  S.  S.  Eeed,  Marcus  Hop 
kins  ;  sergeants,  Z.  P.  Davie,  J.  S.  Cooper,  J.  C. 
Jones,  A.  S.  Allen,  Arvin  Billings,  George  W. 
Barnette,  E.  M.  Lazarus,  James  E.  Carter,  E.  G. 
Taylor,  G.  W.  Moore,  Charles  A.  Brooks ;  corporals, 
M.  D.  Holmes,  Henry  J.  Brown,  L.  Wilson, 
Joseph  Trotier,  William  E.  Smith,  Thomas  C. 


132       THE  SEVENTH  BEGIMENT: 

Brown,  Frank  J.  Ware,  Clark  Wilson,  C.  II.  Bux- 
ton,  Norman  L.  Norris,  F.  A.  Davis,  Albert  A. 
Smith,  James  Alexander,  Benjamin  Gridley,  W. 
T.  Callors,  Eobert  M.  Brisk,  A.  C.  Trimmer,  Chris 
topher  Vesper,  James  Grobe  ;  privates,  A.  M. 
Clinton,  Thomas  Sherwood,  Edward  St.  Lawrence, 
Arthur  Laffin,  Leonard  Walker,  Jacob  C.  Gavcly, 

F.  N.  Brund,  Abraham  Ginter,  John  G.  Parsons, 
Henry  Hatfield,  Andrew   J.   Crippin,   Charles   E. 
Preble,  John  H.  Galvin,  F.  Creque,  Philip  Kelley, 
T.  Hammond,   E.   Lown,  William   Cammel,  John' 
Boyle,  James  Dixon,  Samuel  E.  Garden,  Jacob  E. 
Hine,  Benjamin  Hasfield,  Frank  Henrickle,  P.  E. 
Hill,  William  L.  Latch,   Jacob  Marks,  Thomas  C. 
Riddle,  John  Stone,  Ernest  Zincker,  Franklin  Gas- 
kill,  !N".   Badger,  George  Carrathurs,  T.  P.  Dixon, 
Henry  Fairchild,   J.  M.   Rofflige,    M.  Eichmond, 
Theodore  Wilder,  Oliver  Wise,  A.  Colwell,  William 
Gardner,  John  Frank,  S.  E.  Hendrickson,  E".  R. 
Holcomb,   E.   Hobday,   W.   Lapham,    F.    Manley, 
John  McAdams,  H.  H.  Rhodes,  J.  Harnner,  Joseph 
L.    Clark,    James    Kelley,    William    W.    Meeker, 
Charles  Himpson,  John  Wickham,  J.  Roberts,  J.  R. 
Green,  Edward  E.  Day,  Lewis  Owens,  S.  A.  Fuller, 
D.  G.  Burthroff,  J.  M.  Holcomb,  Frank  Strong,  E. 

G.  Meekins,  H.  Wallace,  M.  S.  Gibbons,  J.  Donthit, 
S.  Reed,  Arthur  Adams,  Ezra  Brown,  Ira  M.  Bar 
low,  George  M.  Caldwell,  George  W.  Carter,  John 


A    EECOED.  133 

Downer,  Thomas  Ely,  Sherman  Collinger,  Stephen 
II.  Hopkins,  Daniel  Jones,  Perrin  D.  Loomis, 
David  C.  Nunemaker,  J.  L.  Oviatt,  G.  Russell,  1ST. 
Twitcliell,  Ralph  Winzenried,  John  C.  Fox,  A. 
Inskeep,  James  Kincaid,  John  Lentz,  R.  D.  Murray, 
John  Pollock,  E.  S.  Mathews,  A.  Shaffer,  C.  Glen- 
denning,  Alfred  Jackson,  Hiram  Deeds,  Ira  S.  Ray, 
Richard  Freeman,  Samuel  Knap,  John  Fishcun, 
James  A.  Tell,  William  Kelley,  T.  D.  "Williams, 
Charles  Smith,  George  A.  Earl,  Maskell  Bispham, 
Frederick  Michael,  Henry  Schmid,  John  Hammond, 
William  Pfahl,  John  Pike,  George  Sahl,  George 
Zipp  ;  George  Rogers,  musician. 


134  THE    SEVENTH    BEGIMENT: 


CHAPTER  XYI. 

THE  EEGIMENT   GOES   INTO   CAMP  AT   AlJEXANDKIA,    BUT    IS   SOOX 
OEDEEED   TO    THE   FEONT. — BATTLE   OF   ANTIETAM. 

AFTEK  the  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain,  the  regi-* 
inent  took  part  in  the  memorable  retreat  of  General 
Pope  to  the  Potomac.  During  the  time,  it  was  not 
engaged  in  immediate  action  ;  but  was  exposed,  on 
several  occasions,  to  the  shell  from  the  enemy's 
batteries.  After  a  fatiguing  march  of  sixteen  days, 
it  arrived,  on  the  2d  day  of  September,  under  the 
guns  of  the  fortifications  around  Alexandria.  On 
the  following  day  it  was  marched  to  Arlington 
Heights,  to  the  support  of  Fort  Albany,  near  which, 
it  encamped  in  a  beautiful  meadow. 

At  midnight  of  the  same  day  an  order  wTas  re 
ceived  to  have  the  command  ready  to  march  at 
half-past  eight  on  the  following  morning;  but  it 
did  not  leave,  however,  until  near  noon,  when, 
crossing  the  Potomac  to  Georgetown,  it  moved  off 
in  the  direction  of  Poolesville,  bivouacking  at  night 
five  miles  from  Georgetown.  On  the  following 
morning  the  command  started  before  day  had  fairly 


A     EECOBD.  135 

dawned,  and  passing  through  Rockville,  bivouacked 
at  night  near  the  place.  On  the  5th  it  moved 
forward,  and  leaving  the  small  village  of  Darnstown 
on  the  left,  formed  in  line  of  battle,  fronting  Pooles- 
ville,  and  awaited  the  advance  of  the  enemy  ;  but 
he  failing  to  appear  in  that  direction,  but  threaten 
ing  Pennsylvania,  by  the  way  of  Frederick,  the 
command,  on  the  9th,  broke  camp  and  advanced  in 
five  columns  towards  the  latter  city.  After  a  brief 
skirmish,  the  advance  entered  the  place  on  the  12th. 
On  the  13th,  the  regiment  crossed  the  mountains 
into  Pleasant  Yalley  to  Middletown.  While  de 
scending  the  side  of  the  mountain,  the  progress  of 
the  battle  of  South  Mountain  was  plainly  seen. 
Ihis  engagement  was  fought  by  the  division  of 
General  Cox,  of  Reno's  corps.  These  troops  won 
great  praise  for  their  gallantry  and  good  fighting 
qualities;  and  the  general,  an  additional  star. 

On  the  15th,  the  advance  of  the  Federal  army 
drove  the  enemy  in  the  direction  of  Boonesboro', 
and  through  the  town  towards  Sharpsburg.  Gen 
erals  Richardson's  and  Pleasanton's  column  of  cav 
alry  and  light  artillery  proved  very  annoying  to  the 
enemy  in  this  day's  retreat. 

On  the  following  day,  the  16th  of  September,  the 
rebel  army  took  up  its  position  across  Antietam 
Creek,  and  there  awaited  the  approach  of  the  Fed 
erals. 


136       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT! 

*  "  This  position  consisted  of  a  series  of  sharp 
points,  rising  from  the  bank  of  the  creek,  and  ex 
tending  to  the  rear  of  Sharpsburg  in  a  succession  of 
ridges ;  but,  when  viewed  from  a  point  a  little  in 
front,  has  the  appearance  of  table-land,  the  ravines 
being  undistinguishable.  These  points  or  ridges  are 
for  the  most  part  surmounted  by  a  heavy  copse  of 
timber,  which  furnished  admirable  shelter  for  foot- 
soldiers  ;  while,  with  batteries  flanking  each  hill, 
the  position  was  all  that  a  general  could  wish  for^ 
defence. 

"  Seeing  the  strength  of  the  position,  McClellan 
sent  Hooker's  and  Sumner's  corps  around  to  the  left 
of  the  enemy's  advance  position,  across  Antietam 
Creek,  and,  ere  the  close  of  day,  they  had  succeeded 
in  driving  him  fully  a  mile. 

"  We  had  lain  down  in  line  of  battle,  expecting 
to  remain  till  the  morrow.  The  tattoo  had  sounded, 
and  an  impressive  silence  had  settled  upon  the 
bivouac,  broken  only  by  the  tread  of  the  alarm- 
guard,  as  he  slowly  paced  his  beat,  and  the  occa 
sional  passing  of  an  orderly,  conveying  some  order 
to  be  executed  on  the  coming  day.  Not  long  were 
we  to  rest.  Our  ears  were  soon  assailed  with— 
*  Attention ,  First  brigade  /'  and  we  were  soon  in 
line,  and  moving  around  to  the  right,  to  the  support 

*  Charles  Tenney. 


A     EECOED.  137 

of  Hooker  and  Sumner,  where  we  arrived  about  one 
A.  M.,  and  bivouacked  upon  the  ground  held  by  the 
rebels  scarce  six  hours  previous.  An  occasional 
shot  or  volley,  in  an  adjoining  piece  of  woods,  re 
minded  us  of  the  close  proximity  of  the  enemy. 
Nevertheless,  the  rest  of  the  night  was  passed  quietly 
enough  by  us. 

"  The  morning  came,  fresh  and  beautiful  ;  but 
our  reveille  was  not  the  rattle  of  the  drum,  nor  the 
clear  notes  of  the  bugle.  The  day  was  opened  by  a 
fierce  volley  of  musketry,  succeeded  by  another,  and 
yet  another,  which  were  soon  so  continuous  as  to  be 
blended  in  one  unremittent  roll.  The  struggle  had 
commenced,  and  the  sun  that  rose  shone  upon  a 
field  already  red  with  blood.  Soon  the  heavy  boom 
ing  of  cannon  was  mingled  with  the  sharp,  crackling 
roll  of  small-arms,  and  the  din  was  terrific.  Hooker 
was  engaged,  and  hotly  too.  We  were  immediately 
ordered  under  arms,  and  advanced  in  the  direction 
of  the  fight.  Halting  in  easy  supporting  distance, 
we  were  given  thirty  minutes  in  which  to  make 
coffee.  At  the  end  of  this  time  the  volume  of  sound 
perceptibly  increased,  and  was  becoming  nearer. 
The  rebels  were  re-enforced,  and  were  slowly  driving 
our  men  before  them.  '  Forward,'  shouted  General 
Mansfield  ;  and  forward  we  went,  in  column  of 
division,  as  cool  and  regular  as  on  drill.  Changing 
direction  to  the  left,  we  advanced  through  a  corn- 


138      THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 

field  taken  by  Hooker  the  evening  previous,  and 
which  was  now  held  by  the  rebels,  having  driven 
our  boys  back.  An  open  field  lay  before  us,  com 
manded  by  the  direct  and  flank  fire  of  the  rebel 
artillery,  and  the  left  flank  of  their  infantry.  Not 
withstanding  the  heavy  fire  we  thus  suddenly  re 
ceived,  the  advance  was  made  steadily,  and  in  slow 
time.  Arriving  at  the  front,  we  deployed  into  line 
of  battle.  The  line  now  being  complete,  we  ad 
vanced  ;  and  the  work  was  begun.  No  halt  w*as 
made  until  the  woods  were  ours  ;  but  the  enemy  was 
to  be  dislodged  from  behind  a  rail  fence.  Then  we 
occupied  the  crest  of  the  hill  in  the  woods,  and  from 
this  point  we  directed  our  fire  to  the  fence,  where  we 
could  plainly  see  them  level  their  pieces  at  us,  and  fire. 
"  For  an  hour  and  a  half  we  thus  remained,  and 
fought:  one  side  with  the  energy  of  despair;  the 
other,  with  an  energy  imparted  with  the  conscious 
ness  of  right  and  justice.  The  contest  wTas  fair  and 
equal,  and  the  right  triumphed.  At  last  the  line  be 
gan  to  waver,  and  General  Green  shouted,  '  Charge  !' 
With  a  yell  of  triumph  we  started,  with  levelled 
bayonets  ;  and,  terror-stricken,  the  rebels  fled.  Like 
hounds  after  the  frightened  deer,  we  pursued  them 
fully  three-fourths  of  a  mile,  killing,  wounding,  and 
taking  prisoners  almost  every  rod.  Their  colors 
fell :  a  private  soldier  leaped  forward,  and  tore 
them  from  the  staff. 


A    RECORD.  139 

"  Across  the  fields  we  pursued  the  foe,  who  again 
took  shelter  in  a  heavy  piece  of  timber,  flanked  by 
their  artillery.  A  battery  of  twelve-pounder  how 
itzers  came  to  our  support,  and  most  efficient  ser 
vice  it  rendered.  We  formed  in  two  lines  in  rear  of 
the  battery,  and  lay  behind  a  low  ridge,  sufficiently 
high  to  protect  from  a  direct  shot,  but  which  offered 
no  shelter  from  the  fragments  of  shells  bursting  near 
to  and  over  us ;  these  were  continually  striking 
amongst  us,  often  grazing  a  cap  or  an  arm,  but  do 
ing  no  particular  harm.  The  howitzers  were  doing 
splendidly,  when  suddenly  we  heard,  '  But  eight 
rounds  left !'  Twenty  more  rounds  would  silence 
the  rebel  battery,  but  we  had  them  not.  Soon 
the  rebel  fire  was  more  rapid,  and  a  yell  in  the  dis 
tance  denoted  an  advance  of  their  infantry.  Shall 
we  retreat?  No  !  we  will  hold  our  ground,  or  die  ! 
On  they  come,  yelling  defiantly :  'tis  A.  P.  Hill's 
division,  second  to  none  but  Jackson's.  We  look 
anxiously  for  another  battery.  It  comes !  It 
comes  !  We  are  safe !  The  gallant  Eighth  Khode 
Island  Battery  comes  up  in  splendid  style ;  our 
ranks  open  right  and  left  for  them,  the  exhausted 
battery  of  howitzers  wheeling  out  of  line.  The 
Parrotts  were  unlimbered,  and  shell,  five-second 
fuse,  called  for,  and  they  opened  in  glorious  style. 

"But  what  means  that  shout  so  closely  on  our 
right  ?  They  have  flanked  us,  and  are  charging  our 


140      THE  SEVENTH  KEGIMENTI 

battery !  A  half  right  wheel  was  made,  and  we 
were  partially  under  cover  of  a  narrow  ridge.  A 
portion  of  our  front  rank,  with  the  colors,  advanced, 
and  opened  a  fire  upon  their  column,  but,  as  it  was 
intended,  it  only  drew  them  on ;  shouting  fiercely, 
they  dashed  forward,  expecting  to  have  an  easy 
capture.  We  waited  until  they  were  within  six 
rods,  when,  with  a  yell  such  as  freemen  know  how 
to  give,  we  rose  and  poured  the  contents  of  our 
rifles  into  the  mass  of  graybacks  emerging  from  tUe 
woods.  They  reeled  and  staggered  for  a  moment, 
then  rallied,  and  returned  our  fire  for  half  an  hour, 
then  wavered.  Perceiving  this,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Tindell,  commanding  brigade,  ordered  a  charge. 
As  we  started,  they  broke  and  fled  in  confusion. 
Our  brigade  advanced  to  the  woods,  but  was  soon 
replaced  by  a  'New  Jersey  regiment,  which  quickly 
broke  and  fled.  On  came  the  rebels,  yelling  and 
exultingly  waving  their  colors,  across  a  field,  and 
entered  a  cornfield  to  the  south,  to  flank  our  men 
who  were  engaging  a  division.  Their  triumph  was 
short,  for  they  suddenly  found  themselves  nearly 
surrounded  by  General  Franklin's  troops,  who  came 
in  from  the  north  and  east,  over  the  identical 
ground  we  fought  over,  and  precipitated  themselves 
upon  the  flank  of  the  enemy,  six  hundred  of  whom 
threw  down  their  guns  and  surrendered,  those  re 
maining  fleeing  in  dismay  from  the  field. 


A    RECORD.  141 

"This  coup  de  grace  closed  the  heavy  fighting 
upon  the  right,  and  we  retired  from  the  front,  lacer 
ated  but  cheerful,  feeling  that  our  duty  was  faith 
fully  performed,  and  knowing  that  the  rebels  were 
defeated." 

The  next  two  days  were  occupied  in  burying  the 
dead  and  collecting  the  wounded. 

On  the  19th,  the  regiment  left  for  Harper's  Fer 
ry,  arriving  at  Maryland  Heights  on  the  20th.  A 
few  days  after  it  forded  the  Potomac  River,  and 
went  into  permanent  camp  on  Loudon  Heights. 

The  regiment  sustained  a  loss  at  the  battle  of  An- 
tietam  of  five  killed  and  thirty-eight  wrounded.  The 
list  is  as  follows :  Killed.' — Sergeant  James  B.  Cart 
er  ;  Corporal  Martin  Lazrus ;  privates,  John  Bacon, 
Elbridge  F.  Meachum,  George  O.  Sherick.  Wounded. 
— Lieutenant  Ernest  J.  Krieger ;  sergeants,  George 
A.  McKay,  Jerry  G.  Claiflin,  Isaac  Jones,  James 
Hansell ;  corporals,  Edward  Goodsell,  Henry  H. 
Bailey,  Hiram  J.  Bell,  John  F.  Ely,  Austin  Bull, 
James  Bryant,  J.  Kurly ;  privates,  George  A.  Wood, 
Joseph  Kubler,  Laurine  Lamphier,  Pliney  E.  Hill, 
George  Steinberger,  E.  C.  Miller,  Daniel  "Weather- 
low,  David  Everett,  Alfred  W.  Mosley,  Averett  C. 
Eeed,  Alson  Coe,  Alfred  E.  May,  Thomas  Woolf, 
Henry  Wilcox,  George  Houck,  William  Cromwell, 
Caleb  Bryant,  George  Wandal,  Nick  Bauer,  Charles 
Briedenbach,  Charles  Graiter. 


142       THE  SEVENTH  BEGIMENT: 


CHAPTER  XYIL 

THE  MAECH  TO  DUMFEIES. — SKIRMISH  WITH  HAMPTON'S  CAY- 
ALKY,  IN  WHICH  THEY  AEE  BADLY  DEFEATED  BY  A  MUCH 
INFEEIOB  FORCE. 

% 

WHILE  at  London  Heights,  the  monotony  of  life 
in  camp  was  relieved  by  drill,  guard,  and  picket 
duty,  with  an  occasional  reconnoissance.  On  the 
latter  occasions  some  little  skirmishing  would  usu 
ally  occur.  An  occasional  dash  was  made  by  the 
rebels  upon  the  Union  picket-line. 

Soon  after  the  occupation  of  this  post  the  grand 
army  crossed  the  Potomac  and  Shenandoah  into  the 
London  Yalley,  on  its  way  to  Fredericksburg.  We 
copy  a  description  of  the  march  of  a  regiment  in 
Porter's  corps.* 

"  I  have  been  thinking  of  the  difference  between 
soldiering  that  we  read  about — fancy  soldiering, 
glory  and  honor  soldiering — and  real  soldiering  of 
the  rough  and  tumble  kind.  How  well  it  sounds 
to  read :  'A  regiment  of  brave  men  marched  proudly 

*  Lieutenant  W.  D.  Shepherd. 


A    KECOBD.  143 

through  the  streets  of  Harper's  Ferry,  to  strains  of 
sweet  music.  Gallantly  the  veterans  of  a  dozen 
battles  streamed  along,  their  banners  gayly  floating 
in  the  breeze ;  they  go  to  join  the  Army  of  the  Po 
tomac.5  What  is  it  when  divested  of  its  trimmings  ? 
1  About  three  hundred  and  fifty  of  what  once  was 
a  regiment  one  thousand  strong,  went  through 
Harper's  Ferry  to-day.  In  vain  the  turn,  turn,  turn 
of  the  drum,  at  the  head  of  the  column,  urged  the 
men  to  keep  time.  "Wearied,  worn  out  by  contin 
ued  tramping,  loaded  down  with  their  knapsacks, 
three  days'  rations  in  their  haversacks,  and  the  pros 
pect  of  a  long  march  before  them,  slowly  they 
dragged  themselves  along;  their  torn  and  tattered 
flag,  as  well  as  soiled  clothes,  giving  evidence  of 
hard  service.'  Again  let  us  quote  :  '  At  evening 
they  halted,  and  bivouacked  for  the  night;  re 
freshed  and  ready  at  early  dawn  to  continue  the  line 
of  march.'  Sift  that  a  little — that  bivouac.  Almost 
worn  out  with  incessant  and  continued  tramping 
through  mud,  and  muck,  and  mire,  great  clumps  of 
which  would  stick  and  cleave  on  to  the  shoe  at 
every  step,  the  night  fast  closing  in,  the  column 
halted  ;  slowly  the  lingering  mass  closed  up,  stacked 
arms,  and  broke  ranks.  Some,  too  tired  to  make  a 
fire  and  cook  food,  threw  themselves  on  the  cold, 
damp  ground,  and,  writh  their  blankets  wrapped 
around  them,  shivered  to  sleep;  others,  having 


144       THE  SEVENTH  KEGIMENT: 

eaten  scarcely  any  thing  all  day,  threw  off  their 
cumbrous  loads,  and  started,  in  the  now  dark  night, 
in  search  of  wood  and  water.  An  old  fire-scorched 
tin  cup  answers  for  a  coffee-pot  as  well  as  tea-kettle. 
Into  it  the  water,  muddy  with  the  feet  of  perhaps  a 
thousand  water-hunting  tired  ones,  is  put;  and 
while  the  coffee  is  boiling,  a  piece  of  fat  pork  is 
drawn  from  the  haversack,  and  a  slice  cut  off;  a 
long  stick,  pointed,  on  which  the  slice  is  secured, 
and  frizzling,  sizzling,  half  burned,  half  cooked,* 
ready  when  the  coffee  is.  The  pork,  coffee,  and 
hard  bread  form,  for  the  hundredth  time,  the  meal 
of  the  hungry  soldier.  Perhaps  on  the  roadside, 
right  in  the  mud,  glad  in  truth  to  lie  anywhere,  one 
after  another  drops  his  wearied  form.  The  heavy 
rain  comes  down  in  torrents,  wetting  him  through 
and  through,  but  tired  nature  heeds  it  not — must 
have  rest. 

"  Early  dawn  comes.  Again  the  pork,  coffee,  and 
hard  bread;  and  the  stiffened,  sore,  leg-weary  pa 
triot  buckles  on  his  saturated  knapsack,  and,  like 
a  foundered  horse,  limps  achirigly  along  till  he  gets 
heated  up,  with  the  same  prospect  before  him  of 
twenty  miles  tramp — clamp — tramp." 

On  the  10th  day  of  December  the  regiment  left 
Bolivar  Heights,  crossed  the  Shenandoah  on  a  pon 
toon,  and  winding  round  the  bluff  of  Loudon,  passed 
up  the  Loudon  Yalley. 


A    RECORD.  115 

While  passing  through  Hillsboro',  the  command 
was  given,  by  Lieutenant  Shepherd  to  his  men,  to 
"  Close  up  ! — get  into  your  places !"  General 
Geary,  on  foot  and  unobserved,  had  marched 
along  just  in  rear  of  the  company.  Hearing  the 
command,  he  remarked :  "  Well,  here  is  a  vacant 
place,  I  guess  I'll  .fill  it  up;"  and  stepped  into 
the  place.  He  marched,  in  this  manner,  some 
distance,  talking  freely  with  those  nearest  him, 
at  the  same  time  obeying  orders  promptly. 

The  regiment  encamped  about  a  mile  beyond 
Hillsboro'. 

Bright  and  early  on  the  following  morning  the 
command  moved  on.  Leaving  the  battle-field  where 
the  brave  Kearney  fell,  and  Fairfax  on  the  left, 
on  the  15th  it  arrived  in  sight  of  the  Lower  Poto 
mac,  and  encamped  after  crossing  Naabsco  Creek. 

Having  passed  Dumfries  on  the  17th,  an  order 
came  that  the  Fifth,  Seventh,  and  Sixty-sixth  regi 
ments,  under  command  of  Colonel  Candy,  should 
march  back  and  hold  that  post.  On  the  following 
day,  crossing  Powell's  Creek,  two  hours'  march 
brought  the  brigade  in  the  outskirts  of  Dumfries, 
where  it  went  into  camp. 

Nothing  transpired  worthy  of  mention  until  the 
27th  of  December,  when  the  heavy  booming  of 
cannon  was  heard  in  the  vicinity  of  the  picket-line. 
It  was  evident  that  the  enemy  were  making  a 


THE    SEVENTH    EEGIMENT I 

descent  on  the  pickets.  For  several  days  this 
attack  had  been  expected,  therefore  in  a  few  min 
utes  the  command  was  ready  and  in  line  of  bat 
tle.  The  pickets  gradually  gave  way,  under  the 
command  of  the  indomitable  Creighton,  fighting 
their  way  back  to  the  line  of  battle,  in  which  they 
took  position.  The  rebels  came  gallantly  forward, 
in  anticipation  of  an  easy  victory.  When  within 
short-range  of  our  guns,  they  were  met  by  such 
a  terrible  fire  of  musketry  from  our  partially, 
concealed  line,  as  to  check  their  advance.  They, 
however,  rallied,  and  returned  the  fire ;  but  in  a 
moment  staggered,  and  finally  withdrew  in  confu 
sion  from  the  field.  Again  forming  their  broken 
columns,  they  hurled  themselves  against  our  line. 
They  were  again  met  by  a  determined  front,  and, 
with  a  like  result,  were  sent,  broken  and  mangled, 
back  upon  their  reserves.  A  third  time  reforming 
their  wasted  ranks,  they  came  down  with  great 
impetuosity,  and  hurled  their  solid  columns  against 
the  weak  lines  of  the  Federals.  They  were  again 
met  with  a  sheet  of  flame,  which  sent  up  its 
column  of  blue  smoke  along  the  entire  front. 
For  a  moment  it  was  impossible  to  tell  the 
effect  produced  on  the  rebels ;  but  the  smoke 
clearing  away  before  a  light  breeze,  it  was  dis 
covered  that  their  advance  had  been  arrested. 
One  more  united  effort,  and  the  rebel  line  was 


A    EECOKD.  147 

again  sent  back  crushed  and  bleeding.  They  again 
organized  for  a  last  desperate  charge,  and  most 
gallantly  did  they  sweep  down  upon  our  line. 
Up  the  hill  and  over  the  brush  and  logs,  which 
lay  in  their  way,  with  wild  impetuosity,  which 
threatened  to  crush  every  thing  before  them. 
Aware  of  the  avalanche  that  was  sweeping  down 
upon  them,  the  Union  boys  hugged  the  ground, 
awaiting,  with  breathless  anxiety,  the  command 
to  fire.  At  last  the  stentorian  voice  of  the  sturdy 
Crane  was  heard  to  shout  the  order,  when  a  band 
of  patriots,  their  eyes  kindled  to  a  blaze  with  the 
ardor  of  their  daring,  with  strong  muscles  and 
steady  nerves,  rose,  and  with  a  shout  that  made 
the  gray  hills  of  old  Dumfries  echo,  poured  a  vol 
ley  of  death  into  the  rebel  host.  Disdaining  to 
again  take  refuge  under  cover,  the  line  stood 
manfully  up,  and  met  the  continued  onsets  of  the 
foe.  The  brave  Creighton  stood  on  a  hill  exposed 
to  the  fire — how  could  men  falter  while  the  noble 
form  of  their  leader  was  thus  bared  to  the  bullets 
of  the  enemy  ?  They  did  not  falter ;  but  the  line 
stood  like  a  wall.  The  rebels  were  soon  seen  to 
waver,  and  as  the  night  "cast  its  mantle  over 
the  combatants,"  they  tardily  and  solemnly  with 
drew,  bearing  with  them  the  lacerated,  bleeding 
victims  to  their  endurance. 

At  night  the  line  was  drawn  in,  and  after  making 


148      THE  SEVENTH  EEGIMENT: 

every  effort  for  the  security  of  the  command,  the 
boys  lay  down  upon  their  arms,  harassed  by  an 
oppressive  uncertainty  which  always  haunts  the 
soldier  in  the  bivouac  upon  the  battle-field. 

During  that  long  night  the  lonely  picket-guard 
peered  out  into  the  darkness,  intent  upon  catching 
the  first  footfall  of  the  cautious  foe.  Slowly  and 
with  careful  tread  he  paced  his  weary  beat,  fear 
ful  that  he  might  be  pounced  upon  by  the  wily 
enemy  ere  he  could  give  the  alarm  to  his  slumber- 
ing  companions.  Through  rain,  and  sleet,  and 
darkness — oppressed  with  the  solemn  stillness  that 
at  night  hangs  over  the  earth — with  a  sense  of  lone 
liness  weighing  upon  his  feelings — he  stood  like  a 
spectre  in  the  gloom,  the  guardian  of  the  thousands 
slumbering  in  the  camp.  While  others  dream  of 
home,  and  friends,  and  firesides,  afar  off  on  the 
hills  of  New  England,  or  the  starlit  prairies  of 
the  West,  the  wakeful  picket  keeps  his  vigil.  May 
God  protect  him  in  his  watch  ! 

As  day  again  dispelled  the  shadows  that  dark 
ened  the  hills  and  the  valleys,  the  columns  of  the 
brave  Sigel  were  seen  winding  their  way  through 
the  village.  A  shout  of  welcome  greeted  these 
heroes.  The  dreadful  suspense  that  had  weighed 
upon  the  hearts  of  the  combatants  of  the  day 
before,  during  that  long  night  of  watching,  now 
gave  place  to  cheerfulness ;  and  confidence  was 


A    EECOBD.  149 

again  restored.  But  the  cautious  Hampton  had 
fled  ;  and  nothing  met  the  eye  save  the  frowning 
hills. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  killed  and  wounded 
in  this  affair : 

Killed. — Corporal  Austin  Ball. 
Wounded. — Corporal  E.  M.  Corrdett;  privates, 
Sylvester   Carter,    Philip   Grigsby,   Thomas    Roff, 
Wm.    P.   Root,  Wm.   H.  Kibbee,  W.   M.   Perry, 
Stephen  Willock. 

Prisoners. — John  Gordon,  Andrew  Atleff,  Rich 
ard  M.  Yreeland,  Douglass  F.  Pomeroy,  Henry  T. 
Benton,  Lewis  T.  Butts,  Henry  Alderman,  Charles 
Bradly,  James  Snider,  John  Beiler,  W.  M.  Perry. 


150       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 


CHAPTER  XYIII. 

THE    EEGIMENT    ORDERED     TO    THE    FRONT.  —  BATTLE    OF    CHAN 
CELLORS  VILLE  . 


the  middle  of  April,  1863,  the  regiment 
marched  down  to  Aquia  Landing,  where  it  re 
mained  in  camp  for  two  weeks. 

General  Hooker  was  now  in  command  of  the 
grand  Army  of  the  Potomac,  having  relieved 
Burnside  after  that  general's  unsuccessful  attack  on 
Fredericksburg.  Hooker  resolved  to  make  an  at 
tempt  to  drive  the  rebel  army  from  the  vicinity  of 
the  Rappahannock.  Burnside's  failure  had  demon 
strated  the  impracticability  of  crossing  the  river  at 
Fredericksburg  ;  for  no  army  was  safe  for  a  mo 
ment  with  a  strong  army  behind  three  lines  of 
well-constructed  earthworks  in  its  front,  and  a  wide 
and  deep  river  in  its  rear.  He  therefore  chose  a 
flank  movement  by  the  way  of  Banks  and  United 
States  fords,  thus  striking  the  left  flank  of  the  en 
emy  near  Chancellorsville  Court-house,  and  avoid 
ing  their  strong  fortifications  in  the  rear  of  Fred 
ericksburg. 

The  Seventh  Regiment  arrived  in  the  vicinity  of 


A    EECOKD.  151 

Chancellorsville  on  the  afternoon  of  the  30th  of 
April,  and  encamped  for  the  night  a  little  southeast 
of  the  latter  place,  and  near  the  Fredericksburg 
plankroad. 

Early  on  Friday  morning  it  was  ordered  forward, 
and  took  position  in  the  second  line  of  battle,  in  an 
open  wood-lot,  facing  south.  Late  in  the  afternoon 
it  was  ordered  back  ;  and  it  finally  took  position 
directly  south  of  the  famous  brick  house,  called  the 
Chancellorsville  Place,  where  headquarters  were  es 
tablished  and  maintained  during  most  of  the  action. 

Just  before  dark  the  rebels  came  up  in  great 
numbers,  in  an  attack  on  Knapp's  Battery,  which 
was  stationed  on  the  left.  The  Seventh  was  or 
dered  to  its  support,  but  the  attack  was  repelled 
before  the  regiment  became  warmly  engaged.  It  re 
mained  in  support  of  this  battery  during  the  night 
and  in  the  forenoon  of  the  following  day.  About 
noon  of  the  2d  of  May,  the  regiment  was  ordered 
forward  to  support  a  line  of  skirmishers ;  but  this 
line,  refusing  to  advance,  was  passed  by  the  regi 
ment,  when  it  took  the  advance,  and  most  hand 
somely  drove  the  enemy  back  for  some  distance, 
holding  the  ground  for  several  hours,  when  it  was 
ordered  to  retire.  It  did  so  without  confusion, 
taking  a  new  position  in  rear  of  a  piece  of  woods, 
where  it  remained  until  ordered  into  the  intrench- 
in  ents. 


152       THE  SEVENTH  EEGIMENT : 

During  this  advance,  the  right  wing  was  hotly 
engaged,  and  lost  heavily ;  the  left  wing  suffering 
slightly.  It  remained  during  the  night  in  its  old 
position  near  the  brick  house,  in  the  second  line  of 
battle. 

On  the  3d,  the  regiment  advanced  to  what  is 
known  as  the  "the  old  rifle-pit,"  which  it  occupied 
while  the  other  troops  were  falling  back  across  a 
cleared  field  south  of  the  Fredericksburg  plankroad. 
Here  it  was  exposed  to  a  galling  fire  from  the 
advancing  rebel  column  ;  but  it  stood  firm.  When 
the  balance  of  the  troops  of  the  brigade  were  in 
proper  position,  it  formed  under  the  protection  of  a 
battery,  and  slowly  moved  off  the  field,  exposed  to 
a  terrible  fire  of  both  musketry  and  artillery,  taking 
up  its  position  in  rear  of  the  brigade.  The  brigade, 
however,  was  soon  driven  back,  and  passed  to  the 
rear  of  the  regiment,  exposing  it  to  a  severe  fire. 
Soon  the  order  came  for  a  general  advance,  when 
the  brigade,  with  a  loud  shout,  dashed  at  the  foe, 
led  by  the  Seventh.  The  rebels  were  pushed  back 
for  a  considerable  distance  ;  but  no  support  coming 
up,  the  brigade  was  compelled  to  fall  back  to  the 
south  of  the  brick  house,  -where  it  halted,  and  laid 
down  in  the  road  ;  but  about  eleven  o'clock  at 
night  the  shelling  became  so  continuous  and  heavy 
that  it  was  forced  still  further  back,  and  finally 
resulting  in  its  withdrawal  to  the  vicinity  of  United 


A     KECOBD.  153 

States  Ford.  That  night  the  regiment  occupied 
a  rifle-pit  about  half  a  mile  from  the  river.  At 
four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  5th,  it  was 
relieved  by  the  Fifth  Ohio  ;  and  taking  a  circuitous 
route,  arrived  in  a  ravine  on  the  left  of  the  column, 
and  near  the  river,  and  was  soon  after  employed  in 
the  intrenchments. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  6th,  the  regiment 
crossed  the  river  on  a  pontoon  at  United  States 
Ford,  and  in  the  afternoon  of  the  7th  arrived  at  its 
old  camp  at  Aquia  Landing. 

In  this  battle  the  regiment  was  actively  en 
gaged  but  a  small  portion  of  the  time.  The  loss 
was  not  severe,  when  taking  into  account  the  mag 
nitude  of  the  engagement,  and  its  duration-. 

"Why  the  army  recrossed  the  river  has  not  been 
fully  explained.  The  immediate  battle  was  not  a 
defeat ;  at  least  it  has  not  been  considered  as  such. 
However,  the  two  columns  of  Sedgwick  and  Hooker, 
failed  to  unite,  which  fact  may  have  had  an  in 
fluence  in  determining  the  retreat.  The  attacks 
of  the  enemy  had  been  repulsed  at  all  points, 
while  Sedgwick  had  carried  a  portion  of  their  for 
tifications  in  rear  of  Fredericksburg.  The  retreat 
alone  turned  a  prospective  victory  into  a  humili 
ating  defeat.  The  grand  army  failed  to  accomplish 
the  purpose  of  its  advance,  and  was  compelled  to 

hasten  its  march  across  the  river  in  retreat,  over 

7* 


154:  THE    SEVENTH    EEGIMENT: 

which  it  had,  but  a  week  before,  advanced  in  tri 
umph.  It  can  be  said  by  way  of  apology  only, 
that  while  at  Chancellorsville  the  army  maintained 
its  reputation  for  bravery  and  endurance,  the  en 
emy  manifestly  looked  upon  it  as  a  fruitless  victory 
to  him. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded  : 
Killed. — Orderly-Sergeant  Henry  Whiting ;  Col 
or-Sergeant  John  D.  Creigh  ;  Corporal  A.  C.  Trim 
mer  ;  privates,  Charles  Ii.  Cheeney,  E.  K  Larom, 
Henry  A.  Pratt,  John  Eandle,  Almon  Lower,  John 
Lee,  Stafford  Penney,  Thomas  Carle,  A.  C.  Stead- 
man,  Victor  Perrley,  Henry  Ackman. 

Wounded. — Orderly-Sergeant  Elmon  Hingston  ; 
sergeants,  H.  II.  Bailey,  John  S.  Davis,  James  Lap- 
ham,  H.  L.  Allen  ;  corporals,  A.  A.  Austin,  John 
Gardiner,  S.  M.  Cole,  J.  S.  Kellogg ;  privates,  W. 
Fnrniss,  II.  Owen,  F.  Eldridge,  W.  Van  Wye,  E.  C. 
Palmer,  D.  L.  Hunt,  E.  V.  ISTash,  Henry  H.  Pierce, 
O.  Jackman,  C.  A.  Wood,  H.  S.  Smalley,  Charles 
P.  Smith,  S.  P,  Sherley,  F.  Eockefellow,  Frank 
Randal,  Joseph  Ilubler,  Michael  St.  Auge,  David 
Boil,  James  Dixon,  Oliver  Wise,  James  Farron, 
G.  Breakman,  F.  Mauley,  John  Shelby,  Andrew 
Copeland,  S.  G.  Cone,  W.  W.  Hunt,  E.  Kennedy, 
II.  G.  Benton,  A.  S.  Raymond,  C.  A.  Parks,  Isaac 
Stratton,  H.  Thwing,  James  Baxter,  J.  W.  Benson, 
S.  Hughes,  P.  Smith,  S.  A.  Fuller,  F.  Hank,  John 


A   EECOKD.  155 

Clonde,  E.  O.  Whiting,  G.  W.  Bonn,  S.  II.  Barnum, 
J.  C.  Brooks,  W.  H.  Fox,  I.  II.  Gregg,  W.  Hunter, 
II.  Jones,  S.  Moneysmith,  S.  S.  Pelton,  B.  Wilson, 
D.  W.  Waters,  W.  H.  Bannister,  H.  Lewis,  W.  J. 
Evans,  C.  L.  Cowden,  H.  Hoffman,  S.  Eenz,  M. 
Saiser,  E.  A.  Spurn,  L.  Knoble. 


156  THE    SEVENTH    KEGIMENT  : 


CHAPTEK  XIX. 

ACCOMPANIES  THE  GEAND  AEMY  INTO  PENNSYLVANIA. — BATTLE 
•  OF  GETTYSBIJEG. 

AFTER  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville,  the  regi 
ment  remained  for  some  time  in  its  camp  at  Aquia 
Landing.  The  Army  of  the  Potomac,  as  well  as 
that  of  Lee,  was  quietly  reorganizing,  preparatory 
to  another  struggle.  Soon  Lee  began  to  threaten 
the  outer  line  of  Hooker,  by  making  demon 
strations  on  the  various  fords  of  the  Rappahan- 
nock.  At  one  time  threatening  to  move  boldly 
across,  and  at  another  menacing  the  flank,  as  if  to 
attack  one  wing  of  the  army.  These  various  move 
ments  gave  rise  to  sharp  skirmishes,  nothing  more. 
At  last  it  was  evident  that  Lee  meant  an  invasion 
of  the  North.  The  Army  of  the  Potomac  was 
therefore  set  in  motion. 

The  Seventh  left  its  camp  early  in  June,  and  pro 
ceeded  to  Martinsburg  by  the  way  of  Fairfax. 
Lee  continuing  his  flank  movement,  the  grand 
army  was  compelled  to  fall  back  across  the  Poto 
mac  ;  the  Seventh  crossing  at  Edward's  Ferry. 
The  rebel  army  now  crossed  the  river  by  the  way 


A     RECORD.  157 

of  Williamsport,  and  moved  forward  towards  Penn 
sylvania.  The  Army  of  the  Potomac  moved  in  the 
same  direction,  passing  through  Frederick  City, 
Maryland,  and  taking  up  its  position  in  rear  of 
Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania.  The  line  of  battle  was 
formed  a  little  distance  from  and  facing  the  town. 
On  the  first  day  of  July  the  rebel  army  advanced 
and  occupied  the  town,  but  the  day  was  exhausted 
in  manoeuvring,  attended  with  slight  skirmishing 
between  the  advance  of  the  two  armies. 

Hooker  had  been  relieved,  and  General  Meade 
ordered  to  assume  command. 

After  the  Seventh  arrived  on  the  field  it  took  its 
position  on  the  left  side  of  the  Gettysburg  and  Lit- 
tletown  pike. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  2d  it  took  a  position 
on  a  hill  on  the  right  of  this  road,  at  the  same  time 
sending  Company  II  to  the  front,  under  command 
of  Captain  McClelland.  This  company  remained 
at  the  front  during  the  entire  day.  For  the  first 
time  in  its  history,  the  regiment  occupied  a  posi 
tion  under  cover,  a  stone  wall  being  in  its  front. 
Up  to  this  time  it  had  not  been  exposed  to  the  fire 
of  infantry ;  but  during  the  afternoon  it  suffered 
slight  loss  from  a  brisk  artillery  fire.  At  eleven 
o'clock  at  night  it  advanced  down  the  pike,  and 
took  a  position  in  a  hollow,  running  at  right  angles 
with  the  road.  It  was  now  exposed  to  a  musketry 


158  THE    SEVENTH    BEGIMENT: 

fire,  resulting  in  the  wounding  of  one  man.  It 
soon  fell  back  to  a  stone  wall,  parallel  with  a  road 
leading  to  the  pike;  and  shortly  after  it  advanced 
to  this  road,  from  which  twenty  men  were  sent 
forward  as  skirmishers,  under  command  of  Ser 
geant  Stratton.  This  gallant  soldier  was  mor 
tally  wounded  while  bravely  leading  his  com 
mand  against  the  foe. 

On  the  morning  of  the  3d  the  regiment  moved 
forward,  after  having  called  in  the  skirmishers, 
to  the  relief  of  the  Sixtieth  New  York  Volunteers, 
occupying  a  line  of  intrenchments.  In  the  evening 
it  was  relieved,  and  withdrew  to  the  breastworks  in 
the  rear ;  but  was  soon  after  ordered  forward  to 
the  relief  of  another  regiment,  where  it  remained 
until  late  in  the  evening.  During  the  entire  day 
it  was  exposed  to  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry,  from 
which  it  suffered  considerable  loss,  considering  the 
position  it  occupied.  When  relieved,  it  withdrew 
to  the  position  held  by  it  in  the  morning. 

At  one  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  4th  of  July, 
it  again  moved  forward  to  the  intrenchments,  where 

O  ' 

it  remained  till  the  brigade  moved  off  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Littletown. 

The  following  incidents  occurred  July  the  3d : 
While  occupying  the  intrenchments,  a  white  flag 
was  seen  flying  from  the  front  of  the  enemy's  lines. 
The  firing  being  suspended,  seventy-eight  rebels 


A    RECORD.  159 

came  forward  and  surrendered,  including  six  offi 
cers.  Lieutenant  Leigh,  of  Ewell's  staff,  came  for 
ward  and  endeavored  to  stop  the  surrender ;  but 
was  fired  upon  by  the  regiment,  and  instantly 
killed. 

Corporal  John  Pollock  leaped  over  the  breast 
works  and  captured  the  flag  of  the  Fourteenth 
Virginia  rebel  regiment. 

Private  James  J.  Melton  was  wounded,  and  af 
terwards  taken  to  a  hospital,  where  he  remained 
for  some  time;  since  which  his  friends  have  heard 
nothing  from  him.  The  wound  being  in  the  head, 
he  is  supposed  to  have  become  deranged  and  wan 
dered  away,  unable  to  give  any  account  of  himself. 
!N~o  means  have  been  left  untried  to  obtain  infor 
mation  of  his  whereabouts,  but  without  avail. 

The  regiment  having  fought  under  partial  cover, 
the  loss  was  slight :  one  killed  and  seventeen 
wounded. 


160       THE  SEVENTH  KEGIMENT: 


CHAPTER  XX. 

AFTER  REACHING  THE  BAPIDAN  IT  GOES  TO  GOVERNOR'S  ISLAND. 
— AFTER  ITS  RETURN  IT  ACCOMPANIES  HOOKER'S  CORPS  TO 
THE  WESTERN  DEPARTMENT. 

AFTEK  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  the  regiment  was 
with  the  grand  army  in  pursuit  of  the  broken 
columns  of  General  Lee.  Passing  through  Fred 
erick  City,  it  arrived  at  Harper's  Ferry  and  went 
into  camp.  Here  it  remained  for  two  days,  when 
it  moved  across  the  Potomac,  and  again  passing 
up  the  beautiful  Loudon  Yalley,  crossed  the  Blue 
Ridge  to  Fairfax  and  Manassas  Junction,  over  the 
old  battle-field  of  Bull  Run.  Again  taking  up  the 
line  of  march,  it  crossed  the  Rappahannock  below 
Culpepper  Court-house,  and  encamped  on  the  banks 
of  the  Rapidan. 

About  this  time  a  riot  broke  out  in  New  York 
city,  which  required  the  presence  of  the  military, 
as  an  assistance  to  the  civil  authorities.  The 
Government  was  therefore  called  upon  to  furnish 
troops.  Several  regiments  were  at  once  dispatched 
to  the  scene  of  strife.  Among  these  was  the 
Seventh.  It  left  the  vicinity  of  the  Rapidan  about 


A     RECORD.  161 

one  week  after  its  arrival  there.  It  marched  to 
Alexandria,  and  there  taking  the  United  States  ship 
Baltic,  passed  down  the  Potomac  through  Chesa 
peake  Bay  to  the  ocean,  arriving  on  Governor's 
Island  in  the  latter  part  of  August.  It  remained 
until  the  first  of  September,  when  again  embarking, 
it  sailed  to  Alexandria,  from  whence  it  marched  to 
the  Rapid  an,  near  its  old  camp. 

General  Rosecrans  had  now  been  removed  from 
the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and 
General  Grant  assumed  control.  The  army  oc 
cupied  the  vicinity  of  Chattanooga,  Tennessee  ; 
while  the  rebel  army  under  General  Bragg  oc 
cupied  Mission  Ridge,  immediately  in  front  of  and 
overlooking  the  city.  The  task  of  driving  Bragg 
from  this  position  was  assigned  to  General  Grant. 

Before  entering  upon  this  campaign,  however, 
it  was  necessary  to  re-enforce  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland  ;  for  it  had  not  entirely  recovered  from 
the  disastrous  battle  of  Chickamauga.  For  this 
purpose  it  was  necessary  to  draw  on  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  now  lying  idle  on  the  banks  of  the 
Rapidan.  At  this  time  this  army  had,  positively 
speaking,  accomplished  nothing.  It  had  barely 
saved  Washington  from  the  enemy.  To  be  sure,  it 
had  seen  many  hard-fought  battles,  and  on  all  oc 
casions  sustained  its  reputation  for  courage  and 
endurance.  But  the  results  following  these  battles 


162       THE  SEVENTH  KEGIMENT I 

were  entirely  negative;  and  after  more  than  two 
years  of  marches,  counter-marches,  sieges,  and 
battles,  when  graves  had  been  dug  from  the  Poto 
mac  to  the  James,  and  filled  with  the  best  blood  of 
the  land,  and  the  country  left  in  mourning  for  her 
fallen  braves,  but  little  territory  had  been  gained, 
and  the  possession  of  this  little  being  constantly 
disputed  by  a  well-organized  and  gallant  army, 
A  sort  of  fatality  had  thus  settled  down  upon  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  Some  of  the  best  generals 
had  been  summoned  to  its  command,  but  to  no 
purpose.  The  hand  of  fate  rested  upon  it  heavily. 
When  about  to  seize  upon  victory,  some  stream 
would  rise  in  its  rear,  or  some  unseen  accident 
happen  to  its  communications  or  line  of  supplies, 
compelling  it  to  let  go  its  hold  on  victory,  and  in 
its  stead  to.  accept  defeat.  No  wonder,  then,  that 
the  authorities  saw  fit  to  send  a  part  of  this  not 
very  promising  army  to  a  department  where  victory 
sometimes  rested  upon  the  Federal  arms.  Hooker's 
corps  was  therefore  ordered  to  report  to  Grant. 

The  Seventh  being  a  part  of  this  command,  left 
its  camp  on  the  Rapidan  in  the  latter  part  of  Sep 
tember,  and  moving  up  to  Washington,  passed  over 
to  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad,  when  it  left 
for  Nashville,  Tennessee,  by  the  way  of  Columbus, 
Indianapolis,  and  Louisville.  It  soon  after  left  for 
Wartrays,  by  the  way  of  Murfreesboro'.  It  was 


A    BECOEI>.  163 

now  ordered  to  construct  winter-quarters,  but- 
having  them  nearly  completed,  it  was  ordered  to 
Bridgeport,  Alabama,  where  it  arrived  in  due  time. 
This  entire  trip  from  the  East  was  accomplished 
without  any  delay,  and  nothing  occurring  to  lessen 
the  good  opinion  the  people  entertained  for  this 
veteran  corps. 


164  THE    SEVENTH    BEGIMENT: 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE  SEVENTH  JOINS  GEANT'S  AEMY. — THE  BATTLES  OF  LOOKOUT 
MOUNTAIN,  MISSION  RIDGE,  AND  KINGGOLD. 

AFTER  remaining  for  some  time  at  Bridgeport, 
the  regiment  was  ordered  to  the  vicinity  of  Lookout 
Mountain.  It  marched  to  the  little  village  of 
Wahatcha,  at  the  base  of  this  mountain,  and  went 
into  camp.  It  remained,  however,  but  a  short  time, 
and  then  returned  to  Bridgeport,  where  it  went  into 
permanent  camp. 

Late  in  the  fall,  General  Grant  had  perfected  his 
arrangements  to  attack  the  rebel  stronghold  on 
Lookout  Mountain ;  and,  as  a  preparatory  measure, 
his  vast  army  was  concentrated  in  the  vicinity  of 
Chattanooga.  An  immense  quantity  of  stores  had 
been  gathered,  while  garrisons  were  placed  at  points 
to  be  held  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  up  communi 
cation  with  the  army  after  its  advance.  Early  in 
November,  the  Seventh  left  its  quarters  in  Alabama, 
and  joined  the  grand  army. 

On  the  24th  of  November,  the  army  was  set  in 
motion.  The  Seventh  passed  up  the  northern  slope 
of  the  mountain,  and  crossing  Lookout  Creek, 


A    BECOBD.  165 

formed  in  line  of  battle.  It  now  steadily  advanced, 
arriving  at  the  rebel  camp  to  find  it  in  the  hands  of 
our  men.  But  desultory  firing  was  kept  up  by  the 
rebel  sharpshooters  concealed  in  the  timber  and 
behind  rocks  on  the  summit  of  the  mountain.  The 
regiment  was  now  ordered  on  picket.  Passing 
around  to  the  east  side  of  the  mountain,  it  was  fired 
upon  by  the  enemy ;  but  owing  to  their  being 
entirely  hidden  from  view  by  the  dense  fog  that 
had  settled  over  the  combatants,  it  did  not  return 
the  fire,  but  secured  a  safe  harbor  behind  rocks  and 
trees.  This  fire  was  kept  up  for  nearly  two  hours, 
with  a  loss  to  the  regiment  of  only  four  men 
wounded.  Before  night  the  regiment  was  relieved 
from  duty  and  marched  to  the  rear,  bivouacking  in 
a  peach  orchard. 

About  ten  A.  M.  of  the  25th,  it  moved  down  the 
opposite  side  of  the  mountain,  and  passing  through 
a  small  valley,  soon  reached  Mission  Kidge.  With 
out  halting,  the  command  moved  steadily  up  this 
mountain,  and  on  arriving  on  its  summit,  found 
that  the  rebels  had  fled.  Passing  into  another 
valley,  it  bivouacked  for  the  night.  On  the  26th, 
the  command  moved  to  the  vicinity  of  Pigeon 
Mountain,  where  it  remained  till  the  following  day. 
Early  on  the  morning  of  the  27th,  it  moved  on  to 
Ringgold,  Georgia,  where  it  found  the  enemy  securely 
posted  on  Taylor's  Ridge.  On  arriving  in  this  town, 


166       THE  SEVENTH  EEGIMENT: 

the  brigade  was  ordered  to  scale  the  mountain.  It 
was  formed  on  the  railroad,  in  two  lines  of  battle ; 
the  second  line  being  ordered  to  preserve  a  distance 
of  one  hundred  yards.  Two  Pennsylvania  regi 
ments  formed  the  first  line,  and  the  Sixty-sixth  and 
Seventh  Ohio  the  second  line  ;  the  Seventh  being 
on  the  left.  The  enemy  soon  discovered  the  inten 
tion  of  our  troops,  and  made  his  dispositions  to 
meet  the  attack  by  extending  his  right.  As  soon 
as  the  advance  began,  the  enemy  opened  fire.  Ar 
riving  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  the  first  line  halted  to 
return  the  fire,  and  the  second  line  passed  through. 
The  Seventh  now  moved  into  a  ravine,  where  it  was 
exposed  to  a  terrible  fire  from  the  front  and  both 
flanks,  but  it  pressed  on  without  firing  a  shot.  Ar 
riving  almost  on  the  crest  of  the  hill,  the  fire 
became  too  effective  for  even  these  gallant  veterans 
to  withstand,  and  the  line  gave  way,  fighting  as  it 
went.  In  this  manner,  the  surviving  few  reached 
the  foot  of  the  hill. 

This  engagement  was  short,  but  terrible  in  its 
results  to  the  regiment.  It  may  be  said  that  with 
this  struggle  its  star  of  glory  began  to  fade — its 
pride  and  spirit  were  broken.  But  one  officer 
escaped  uninjured,  while  many  were  killed.  The 
number  of  men  in  the  action  was  two  hundred  and 
six,  of  whom  fourteen  was  killed  and  forty-nine 
wounded. 


A    RECORD.  167 

For  what  purpose  this  handful  of  men  were 
ordered  to  storm  the  enemy's  position  on  the  hill 
has  never  been  explained.  There  was  no  artillery 
used  to  cover  the  assault,  without  which  it  was 
impossible  to  carry  the  position  with  such  a  force, 
and  hazardous  to  attempt  it  with  any.  Within  a  short 
distance  there  was  a  large  amount  of  artillery, 
which  could  have  been  placed  in  position,  after 
which  Taylor's  Ridge  would  have  been  untenable 
by  the  enemy.  On  seeing  such  dispositions  being 
made,  he  would  probably  have  anticipated  the 
movement,  and  fled  without  firing  a  gun.  But 
thus  far  Hooker  and  his  almost  invincible  corps 
had  carried  every  thing  before  them.  This  success 
seemed  to  bring  with  it  a  contempt  for  the  rebel 
soldiers,  which  finally  resulted  in  the  great  disaster 
at  Taylors  Ridge.  A  good  general  will  resist  the 
influences  growing  out  of  success,  and  not  be  led 
by  these  to  undertake  impossibilities,  and  by  such 
rashness  endanger  that  which  he  has  already  gained. 
It  requires  greater  self-control  to  resist  the  tempta 
tions  following  victory,  than  to  overcome  the  de 
moralizing  influences  of  defeat.  Victory  must 
never  elate  a  general,  while  defeat  must  never  de 
press  him. 

After  this  battle,  an  unsuccessful  attempt  was 
made  to  get  the  regiment  ordered  home.  But  the 
response  of  Ilalleck,  to  a  similar  application,  made 


168       THE  SEVENTH  KEGIMENTI 

after  the  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain,  was  reiterated. 
"  ~No !"  said  the  old  warrior  ;  "  not  so  long  as  there 
is  a  lame  drummer-boy  left ;  not  if  you  will  send 
us  a  whole  new  regiment  in  place  of  this  handful. 
We  know  these  men — they  are  just  such  as  we 
want."  This  compliment,  from  an  officer  wrho  was 
in  command  of  all  of  the  armies  of  the  United 
States,  was  worth  many  a  hard  march,  as  well  as 
battle. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded 
in  the  three  battles  of  Lookout  Mountain,  Mission 
Ridge,  and  Taylor's  Ridge  : 

Killed. — Colonel  W.  R.  Creighton  ;  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  O.  J.  Crane  ;  Adjutant  Moris  Baxter  ; 
second-lieutenants,  Isaac  C.  Jones  and  Joseph 
Cryne ;  sergeants,  J.  C.  Corlet,  William  Van  Wye ; 
corporals,  Alfred  Austin,  W.  H.  Bennett ;  privates, 
C.  F.  King,  C.  E.  Wall,  D.  P.  Wood,  J.  L.  Fish, 
Thomas  Sweet,  Oliver  Grinels,  Lawrence  Remmel, 
H.  Hanson,  J."  H.  Merrill,  William  Pfuel. 

Wounded. — Captains,  W.  D.  Braden,  Samuel 
McClelland  ;  first-lieutenants,  George  A.  McKay, 
George  D.  Lockwood  ;  second-lieutenants,  D.  H. 
Brown,  E.  H.  Bohm,  II.  E".  Spencer,  Christian 
ISTesper ;  sergeants,  M.  M.  Cutler,  John  Gardner, 
L.  Wilson,  Isaac  Stratton,  Elmore  Hemkston ;  cor 
porals,  James  W.  Raymond,  E.  Y.  Nash,  John 
Baptee,  C.  Glendenning,  Hiram  Deeds,  Thomas 


A    EECOKD.  169 

Dowse,  George  Spencer,  "William  Senfert,  J.  E. 
Hine,  W.  H.  Petton,  J.  H.  Cleverton,  II.  0.  Hunt, 
M.  H.  Sheldon,  John  Phillips,  W.  O.  Barnes,  M. 
Fitzgerald,  J.  Tuttle,  George  Eikler,  W.  J.  Lowrie, 
II.  O.  Pixley,  W.  H.  Johnson,  John  Bergin,  W. 
Wise,  H.  B.  Pownell,  J.  N.  Hall,  Y.  Reynolds, 
E.  White,  H.  Wright,  R.  D.  Gates,  Otis  Martin, 
Joseph  Kincaid,  W.  O.  Johnson,  J.  Decker,  J. 
Hall,  C.  Cowden,  D.  F.  Dow,  George  Mandall,  H. 
Fezer,  George  Raynette,  L.  Habbig,  John  Schwinck, 
Joseph  Rowe,  C.  Deitz. 

The  following  were  wounded  at  Lookout  Moun 
tain  : 

John  H.  Galvin,  M.  0.  Stone,  M.  W.  Bartlett, 
James  A.  Garrison,  Louis  Owen,  A.  Gordon. 


170  THE  SEVENTH  BEGIMENT: 


CHAPTEK  XXII. 

THE   ADVANCE   TOWAEDS   ATLANTA. — SKIRMISHING. — HoMEWAED 
MAEOH. — ITS    EECEPTION. — MlJSTEE   OUT. 

THE  series  of  successes  in  the  vicinity  of  Chatta 
nooga  made  Grant  a  lieutenant-general,  and  gave 
Sherman  the  command  of  the  armies  in  Tennessee. 
Preparations  were  now  made  to  press  back  the 
forces  marshalled  in  rebellion  at  all  points.  Early 
in  the  spring  the  ball  was  opened  in  the  East  by 
Lieutenant-General  Grant  in  person,  while  in  the 
"West  the  indomitable  Sherman  set  his  invincible 
army  in  motion  towards  the  very  heart  of  the  so- 
called  Confederacy.  The  advance  wTas  sounded, 
and  the  Union  hosts  pressed  onward. 

By  sunset  on  the  17th  of  May  the  Seventh  Regi 
ment  reached  Calhoun,  and  on  the  19th  the  vicinity 
of  Cassville,  where  it  hastily  threw  up  some  breast 
works  ;  but  after  two  hours  was  ordered  forward  in 
line  of  battle.  On  the  23d  it  passed  through  the 
latter  village,  across  the  railroad,  and  at  four  P.  M., 
arrived  on  the  banks  of  the  Etawa  River ;  and  after 
fording  the  stream,  bivouacked  for  the  night.  On 


A    RECORD.  171 

the  25th  it  took  the  advance  of  the  entire  column, 
and  deployed  seven  companies  as  skirmishers.  The 
march  of  these  companies  was  very  toilsome,  and 
their  progress  correspondingly  slow.  Near  Pump 
kin  Vine  Creek  the  advance  was  fired  upon  by  the 
enemy's  pickets,  and  a  sharp  skirmish  ensued. 
During  this  time  the  enemy  attempted  to  destroy 
the  bridge  over  the  creek,  but  were  driven  back 
by  the  regiment ;  when  it  immediately  crossed,  and 
took  possession  of  a  commanding  hill. 

Generals  Hooker  and  Geary,  with  staff  and  body 
guard,  had  moved  forward  with  the  skirmish-line, 
and  sometimes  in  advance  even  of  this.  On  one  of 
the  latter  occasions  the  body-guard  was  fired  upon, 
and  the  three  reserve  companies  of  the  Seventh 
were  ordered  to  their  relief. 

The  advance  of  the  enemy  was  now  held  in  check 
until  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade  came  up, 
when  he  was  dispersed. 

In  this  skirmish,  one  man  was  killed  and  eight 
wounded.  At  this  point  the  command  threw  up 
some  breastworks,  where  it  remained  until  six  P.M., 
when  it  advanced  in  line  of  battle.  In  this  move 
ment  the  regiment  became  hotly  engaged,  losing 
three  killed  and  fifteen  wounded.  One  of  the  ene 
my's  shell  exploding  in  the  ranks,  occasioned  the 
loss  of  eight  men.  On  the  28th  and  the  previous 
night,  considerable  skirmishing  was  kept  up  in 


172  THE    SEVENTH    EEGIMENT: 

front  of  the  line  of  intrenchments,  as  well  as  some 
sharp  artillery  firing ;  which,  however,  did  very  lit 
tle  damage.  These  pieces  were  soon  silenced  by  a 
New  York  battery.  All  day  and  night  of  the 
30th  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  sharp  skirmish 
ing ;  but  one  man,  however,  was  injured,  and  he 
severely.  On  the  2d  of  June  it  moved  forward  to 
Allatoona,  Georgia,  where  it  built  breastworks,  and 
went  into  camp. 

Here  it  remained  for  some  time,  when  its  term  of 
service  having  expired,  it  hastened  its  steps  home 
ward  ;  thus  severing  the  connecting  link  between  it 
and  the  army.  The  members  of  this  veteran  regi 
ment  now  felt  that  they  were  no  longer  soldiers : 
that,  although  they  retained  the  organization  and 
uniform  of  a  regiment,  they  were  private  citizens 
hastening  to  enjoy  home  and  friends,  from  which 
they  had  been  so  long  separated.  They  marched 
with  joyous  hearts,  and  yet  there  was  sadness  pres 
ent  with  this  happiness.  Many  a  comrade  was 
left  behind,  never  to  return.  Fresh  graves  marked 
its  line  of  march  from  Chattanooga  to  Georgia. 
Friends  and  kindred  were  sleeping  beneath  these 
green  mounds,  and  they  could  not  pass  them  by,  in 
this  homeward  march,  without  a  tear  of  regret. 

Following  the  line  of  the  railroad,  the  regiment 
finally  halted  and  awaited  transportation.  When 
this  was  furnished,  it  went  to  Nashville  by  railroad, 


A    RECORD.  173 

at  which  place  it  embarked  on  steamers  and  started 
down  the  Cumberland  River.  Arriving  in  the 
vicinity  of  Harpeth  Shoals,  it  was  fired  on  by 
guerrillas,  and  two  men  wounded.  Both  officers 
and  men  were  desirous  of  landing  and  punishing 
this  band  of  outlaws  for  their  insolence,  but  could 
not  prevail  on  the  captain  of  the  boat  to  permit  it. 

Arriving  in  the  Ohio  River,  Sergeant  Trembly 
fell  from  the  boat  and  was  drowned.  This  was  a 
sad  occurrence.  He  had  served  faithfully  during 
the  service  of  the  regiment ;  and  now,  on  the  eve  of 
being  mustered  out,  he  lost  his  life  by  accident. 
The  boat  was  stopped,  and  efforts  made  to  rescue 
him,  but  without  success. 

When  the  regiment  reached  Cincinnati,  the  Fifth 
Ohio  had  already  arrived.  The  city  being  about 
to  give  an  ovation  to  this  gallant  regiment,  the 
Seventh  was  invited  to  take  part  in  it,  by  partaking 
of  the  hospitality  of  the  city.  This  demonstration, 
in  honor  of  the  two  regiments,  was  eminently  fitting, 
for  they  were  united  by  the  ties  of  long  fellowship. 
From  the  very  first  they  had  been  brigaded  to 
gether.  The  history  of  the  one  wTas  the  history  of 
the  other.  They  had  marched,  bivouacked,  and 
fought  side  by  side.  Each  prized  the  honor  and 
renown  of  the  other  not  less  than  its  own.  The  city 
of  Cincinnati,  in  thus  extending  its  hospitality  to 
the  Seventh  Regiment,  did  much  credit  to  itself. 


174  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

The  friends  of  the  regiment  will  remember  this  mag 
nanimous  conduct,  while  the  members  of  the  regi 
ment  will  keep  green  the  memory  of  the  gallant 
Fifth. 

The  following  is  from  the  Cleveland  Herald,  of 
the  llth  of  June  : 

"  On  Saturday  afternoon,  soon  after  the  evening 
papers  had  been  issued,  a  dispatch  was  received, 
announcing  that  the  Seventh  Ohio  had  but  just 
left  Cincinnati,  and  would  not  arrive  in  Cleveland 
until  about  seven  o'clock  Sunday  morning.  Bulle 
tins  to  this  effect  were  at  once  printed,  and  dis 
tributed  through  the  city ;  but  a  large  crowd  of 
persons,  not  aware  of  this  fact,  came  down  to  watch 
the  arrival  of  the  evening  train,  on  which  the  Sev 
enth  was  supposed  to  be  coming. 

"  On  Sunday  morning  the  population  of  the  city 
were  early  astir,  and  by  seven  o'clock  a  large  and 
continually  increasing  crowd  had  assembled  in  and 
around  the  depot.  The  police,  in  full  uniform, 
marched  down  to  the  depot,  and  were  followed  by 
the  old  members  of  the  Seventh,  bearing  the  second 
regimental  flag,  the  first  having  been  deposited  in 
the  State-house  at  Columbus. 

"  At  seven  o'clock  the  ringing  of  the  fire-bells 
announced  the  approach  of  the  time  for  the  arrival 
of  the  train ;  and  about  half-past  seven  o'clock  a 
salute  from  the  guns,  manned  by  the  Brooklyn 


A    RECOKD.  175 

Artillery,  and  run  down  to  the  bluff  at  the  foot  of 
Water-street,  announced  the  arrival  of  the  train. 

"As  it  moved  into  the  depot  it  was  received  with 
cheers  by  the  assembled  crowd ;  and  the  war-worn 
veterans  were  soon  out  of  the  cars,  and  surrounded 
by  anxious  and  joyful  friends.  Shouts  of  welcome, 
hearty  hand-shaking,  embraces  and  kisses,  were 
showered  upon  the  sun-browned  soldiers.  Many  of 
the  scenes  were  very  affecting.  In  one  place  a 
young  wife,  whose  husband  had  left  for  the  field 
just  after  their  marriage,  hung  with  clinging  em 
brace  on  her  returned  brave,  and  her  moist  eyes 
sought  his  with  unutterable  affection,  her  hands 
trembling  with  excess  of  joy.  In  another,  an  old 
man,  with  both  hands  grasped  in  those  of  his  son, 
mingled  smiles  of  joy  over  his  returned  boy,  with 
tears  of  sorrow  for  the  one  who  had  laid  down  his 
life  for  his  country.  Mothers  clung  to  sons,  sisters 
to  brothers,  wives  to  husbands,  and  some  little 
children  climbed  up  for  a  father's  embrace. 

"  The  number  all  told,  men  and  officers,  of  those 
who  returned,  was  two  hundred  and  forty-five. 
These  were  the  remnants  of  nearly  eleven  hundred 
men,  who  left  Camp  Dennison  three  years  ago,  on 
the  reorganization  of  the  regiment.  The  whole 
number  of  the  regiment  is  five  hundred  and  one, 
of  whom  the  remainder  were  recruited  at  various 
times,  and  their  term  of  service  not  expired.  Sixty 


176       THE  SEVENTH  KEGIMENT: 

of  these  were  left  in  Sherman's  army ;  the  rest  are 
scattered  in  every  direction,  from  the  James  River 
to  Atlanta.  The  greater  part  of  those  whose  term 
of  service  has  not  expired  are  to  be  consolidated 
with  the  same  class  in  the  Fifth  Ohio,  which  fought 
by  its  side  in  many  a  bloody  fray,  and  which  is  to 
retain  its  number.  The  slightly  wounded  were 
brought  up  with  the  regiment,  the  more  seriously 
wounded  being  left  in  different  hospitals. 

"  The  following  is  the  present  organization  of  the 
Seventh : 

"  Lieutenant-colonel,  Sam.  McClelland ;  surgeon, 
Dr.  Bellows ;  assistant  surgeon,  Dr.  Ferguson ; 
Captain  Wilcox,  Company  E ;  Captain  Kreiger, 
Company  K. ;  Captain  Clark,  Company  B  ;  Captain 
Howe,  Company  A  ;  Captain  Braden,  Company  G  ; 
Captain  Davis,  Company  C,  taken  prisoner  in  last 
fight ;  Captain  Nesper,  Company  H ;  Captain 
McKay,  Company  F ;  Captain  Lockwood,  Com 
pany  D  ;  Lieutenant  Bohm,  commanding  Company 
I ;  quartermaster,  S.  D.  Loomis. 

"  The  regiment  left  Chattanooga  with  the  Fifth 
Ohio ;  but  parted  company  on  the  way,  the  Fifth 
having  left  their  arms  behind  them,  and  were 
therefore  compelled  to  come  by  railroad,  no  un 
armed  troops  being  allowed  to  come  by  the  river. 
The  Seventh  came  up  the  Cumberland  and  Ohio 
rivers  by  steamboats,  and  were  fired  on  by  guerrillas 


A    RECORD.  177 

on  the  way.  One  man  was  lost,  Sergeant  Trembly, 
of  Company  C,  about  thirty  miles  below  Cincinnati. 
He  was  on  the  guards  of  the  steamer  cleaning  his 
gun,  when  he  fell  overboard.  The  boat  was  stopped, 
and  efforts  made  to  save  him ;  but  he  was  carried 
away  by  the  current  and  drowned. 

"  On  reaching  Cincinnati,  they  were  ordered  to 
Columbus  to  be  mustered  out ;  but  when  the  train 
got  to  Columbus,  they  were  ordered  to  go  on  to  this 
city  to  be  paid,  and  mustered  out. 

"  After  leaving  the  cars,  and  the  greetings  of 
friends  were  ended,  the  men  were  marched  to 
one  part  of  the  depot,  and  given  a  chance  to  wash 
themselves.  They  were  then  conducted  to  tables 
set  along  the  north  wing  of  the  depot,  where  a  hot 
breakfast  had  been  provided  by  Wheeler  and  Rus- 
sel,  on  the  order  of  the  military  committee.  Rev. 
Mr.  Goodrich  invoked  the  blessing. 

"  A  number  of  ladies  were  on  hand,  who  supplied 
the  soldiers  bountifully  with  strawberries,  after  the 
more  substantial  part  of  the  feast  was  concluded. 

"  As  soon  as  the  men  had  been  properly  fed  and 
refreshed,  they  fell  into  line,  and  proceeded  through 
Water  and  Superior  streets  to  the  front  of  the  gov 
ernment  buildings,  where  the  formal  reception  was 
to  take  place.  The  procession  was  headed  by  the 
police,  followed  by  a  brass  band,  and  by  the  mil 
itary  committee,  members  of  the  council,  and  city 

8* 


178       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 

officers.  The  old  members  of  the  Seventh,  with  the 
second  flag  of  the  regiment,  tattered  and  torn,  im 
mediately  preceded  the  bronzed  veterans,  who, 
fully  armed,  and  bearing  their  last  flag,  rent  with 
a  hailstorm  of  hostile  bullets,  inarched  with  proud 
steps  through  the  streets  they  had  left  three  years 
and  three  months  since.  Carriages  followed  with 
the  sick  and  wounded  who  were  unable  to  march. 
The  procession  was  accompanied  with  a  throng  of 
people,  and  crowds  lined  the  streets,  whilst  flags 
fluttered  in  all  directions. 

"  On  reaching  the  front  of  the  government  build 
ing,  the  regiment  was  drawn  up  in  double  line,  and 
Prosecuting-Attorney  Grannis,  in  the  absence  of 
Mayor  Senter,  addressed  the  regiment,  in  behalf  of 
the  corporation  and  citizens,  as  follows : 

"  SOLDIERS  OF  THE  SEVENTH  OHIO — The  people  of 
the  city  of  Cleveland  welcome  you  home.  More 
than  three  years  ago,  you  went  forth  with  full  ranks 
— more  than  a  thousand  strong.  To-day  a  little 
remnant  returns  to  receive  the  greetings  of  friends, 
and  to  mingle  again  with  society,  as  -was  your  wont 
in  times  gone  by.  But  this  is  not  all.  You,  and 
those  who  went  with  you,  whether  present  here  to 
day  or  absent,  whether  among  the  living  or  the  dead, 
shall  be  held  forever  in  grateful  remembrance. 

"  We  witnessed  your  departure  with  pride,  not 
unmingled  with  sorrow.  We  did  not  regret  that 


A    RECORD.  179 

the  men  of  the  glorious  Seventh  had  gone  out  to 
light  against  a  brutal  and  insolent  foe,  or  fear  that 
any  member  of  it  would  ever  fail  to  do  his  whole 
duty  in  the  perilous  ridges  of  the  battle  ;  but  we  did 
know  that  your  departure  was  attended  with  many 
sacrifices ; — that  you  would  be  exposed  to  cold, 
fatigue,  and  hunger ;  would  suffer  from  disease, 
from  honorable  wounds,  and  in  loathsome  prisons ; 
and  that  many  a  noble  form  would  bite  the  dust. 
We  knew  that  these  things  must  needs  be,  that  the 
nation  might  live.  The  half  was  not  told  us.  It 
did  not  enter  into  our  hearts  to  believe  what  you 
would  suffer  and  what  you  would  accomplish. 
Upon  almost  every  battle-field,  from  Cross  Lanes  to 
Dalton,  the  glorious  banner  of  the  Seventh  has  been 
in  the  van  of  the  battle.  We  have  watched  your 
course  with  painful  interest.  After  every  battle, 
came  the  intelligence  that  your  regiment  had  fought 
bravely,  and  had  come  out  with  thinned  ranks. 

"  You  have  the  grand  consolation  of  knowing  that 
the  victories  of  Gettysburg,  of  Lookout  Mountain, 
of  Einggold,  and  of  Resaca,  were  not  won  without 
your  aid.  To  have  been  in  any  one  of  those  desperate 
conflicts,  is  glory  enough  for  any  man.  The  record 
you  have  made  will  seem  almost  like  a  tale  of 
fiction.  We  have  often  had  tidings  of  you,  but 
such  as  would  not  cause  our  cheeks  to  tingle  with 
shame.  It  was  never  said  of  the  Seventh  Ohio  that 


180       THE  SEVENTH  EEGIMENT: 

it  faltered  in  battle,  that  it  failed  to  do  its  whole 
duty.  You  have  been  faithful,  uncomplaining,  and 
heroic.  These  things  have  not  been  accomplished 
without  painful  sacrifices.  How  painful,  let  the 
honorable  scars  many  will  carry  to  their  graves 
answer.  How  painful,  let  this  begrimed  and 
tattered  flag  answer.  How  painful,  these  thinned 
ranks  will  answer.  Your  gallant  colonel  and  lieu 
tenant-colonel  came  home  before  you.  Not  as  we 
could  have  wished  them  to  come,  but  wearing  the 
habiliments  which  all  must  wear;  and  now  they  lie 
yonder,  and  their  graves  are  still  wet  with  the  tears 
of  their  mourning  countrymen. 

"  Not  so  fortunate  many  of  your  countrymen,  for 
they  lie  in  unknown  seclusion,  but  not  in  unhonored 
graves.  We  will  not  mourn  these  dead  as  those 
who  die  without  hope,  for  their  names  shall  be 
honored,  so  long  as  liberty  is  prized  among  men. 

" '  Death  makes  no  conquest  of  these  conquerors, 
For  now  they  live  in  fame,  though  not  in  life/ 

"  It  is  an  honor  to  be  engaged  in  this  conflict, 
which  those  who  share  it  should  fully  prize ;  and  those 
who  have  been  engaged  in  it  have  shown  a  self- 
sacrificing  devotion  to  duty,  seldom  excelled.  It  is 
a  conflict  in  favor  of  liberty  against  treason  and 
traitors ;  against  a  desperate  and  implacable  foe, 
fighting  with  desperate  energy,  that  fraud,  oppres 
sion,  and  crime  may  stalk  abroad  in  daylight. 


A    KECOED.  181 

"  Let  us  hope  that  the  final  overthrow  of  rebellion 
is  at  hand ;  that  soon  our  soldiers  may  all  return 
home,  with — 

"  *  Brows  bound  with  victorious  wreaths, 
Their  bruised  arms  hung  up  for  monuments, 
Their  stern  alarums  changed  to  merry  meetings, 
Their  dreadful  marches  to  delightful  measures.' 

"  On  concluding,  Mr.  Grannis  introduced  Gover 
nor  Brough,  who  also  addressed  the  regiment.  He 
said  in  substance  as  follows  : 

"  MEN  OF  THE  SEVENTH  OHIO — I  know  you  are 
anxious  to  turn  from  this  public  to  private  greetings, 
to  clasp  friends  arid  acquaintances  in  your  hands 
and  hearts.  Under  these  circumstances  I  have  not 
the  courage  to  detain  you.  I  will  not  read  the 
glorious  record  of  your  achievements,  for  it  would 
keep  you  so  long.  It  is  not  necessary.  We  know 
your  record  in  all  its  glory,  but  not,  like  you,  in  all 
its  pain.  A  little  over  three  years  ago,  on  a  Sabbath 
morning,  you  left  Cleveland.  Now,  on  a  Sabbath 
morning,  you  return  to  us.  That  Sabbath  was  hal 
lowed,  by  the  purpose  with  which  you  went  forth. 
This  Sabbath  is  rendered  sacred,  by  the  joy  with 
which  you  are  welcomed  back  to  us. 

"  On  behalf  of  the  State,  I  am  here  to  give  you  a 
cordial  greeting  on  your  return.  For  the  people 
of  Cleveland,  no  formal  greeting  is  necessary.  In 
the  crowd  that  gather  around  you,  you  can  read 


182       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT  I 

the  cordial  welcome,  that  needs  no  words  to  ex 
press  it. 

"The  Spartan  mother,  who  sent  her  son  to  battle, 
bade  him  to  return  with  his  shield  in  honor,  or  on 
his  shield  in  death.  You  have  returned  with  your 
shields,  and  with  honor  reflected  from  them  on  you. 
But  let  us  not  forget  that  many  have  come  home 
on  their  shields.  We  cannot  forget  those  that,  on 
another  Sabbath  morning,  came  home,  and  were 
received  by  the  city  in  the  weeds  of  mourning. 

"  We  welcome  you  back,  not  only  because  you  are 
back,  but  because  you  have  reflected  honor  on  your 
State.  Standing,  as  I  do,  in  the  position  of  father 
of  all  of  the  regiments  of  the  State,  it  will  not  do 
for  me  to  discriminate  ;  but  I  will  say,  that  no  regi 
ment  has  returned  to  the  bosom  of  the  State,  and 
none  remains  to  come  after  it,  that  will  bring  back  a 
more  glorious  record  than  the  gallant  old  Seventh. 

"  There  is  no  need  to  tell  you  what  the  lesson  of 
this  war  is.  You  have  learned  it  in  many  a  weary 
march,  and  on  many  a  field  of  carnage.  None  know 
better  than  you,  that  there  are  but  two  ways  pos 
sible  for  the  termination  of  this  war.  One  is  an 
inglorious  peace  and  disgraceful  submission,  and 
the  other  is  to  completely  crush  the  military  power 
of  the  rebellion.  There  is  no  other  way ;  and  he 
who  goes  about  on  street-corners,  and  talks  about 
a  peace  short  of  one  or  the  other  of  these  alter- 


A    RECOED.  183 

natives,  is  either  grossly  ignorant  or  intentionally 
attempting  to  deceive.  More  than  that,  no  one 
knows  better  than  yourselves,  that  to  secure  a 
lasting  peace,  when  the  military  power  of  the  re 
bellion  is  crushed,  the  cause  of  this  infernal  re 
bellion  itself  must  be  thoroughly  wiped  out.  You 
have  been  taught  that  in  many  a  fiery  lesson,  and 
know  it  to  be  a  truth. 

"There  are  gallant  men  and  brave  generals  in  the 
army  laboring  to  reach  this  end  ;  and  we  have  con 
fidence  that  their  efforts  will  be  crowned  with  suc 
cess.  God  grant  that  it  may  be  so.  I  had  almost 
said  that  God  and  Grant  will  make  it  so. 

"  But  I  will  detain  you  no  longer.  There  is  an 
other  greeting  awaiting  you  in  your  homes — a 
greeting  that  no  other  eyes  should  witness.  To 
that  sacred  and  precious  greeting  I  remit  you." 

The  regiment  now  marched  off"  to  Camp  Cleve 
land,  escorted  by  the  old  members  of  the  Seventh. 

The  men  were  given  a  brief  furlough,  after  which 
preparations  were  made  to  be  mustered  out. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  a  grand  ovation  was  given  to 
the  regiment,  in  connection  with  the  Eighth  Ohio  ; 
in  fact,  while  the  regiment  remained  in  Cleveland, 
it  was  one  continued  ovation.  The  citizens  vied 
with  each  other,  in  caring  for  and  honoring  the 
old  Seventh.  It  seemed  as  if  they  could  not  do 
enough.  These  brave  men  will  not  soon  forget 


184:  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

the  anxious  care  bestowed  upon  them  by  the  citi 
zens  of  Cleveland,  during  this  closing  period  of 
their  career  in  the  service  of  their  country. 

After  remaining  for  a  brief  period  in  camp,  the 
regiment  was  mustered  out ;  and  after  kindly  fare 
wells  had  been  exchanged,  each  member  departed 
for  his  home,  from  which  he  had  been  so  long 
absent  in  protecting  a  Government  that  he  loved 
from  the  ruthless  touch  of  treason  and  slavery. 

When  the  regiment  entered  the  field,  it  num 
bered  more  than  a  thousand  men.  As  these  began 
to  dwindle  away  by  the  shock  of  battle  and  the 
ravages  of  disease,  new  members  came  in,  until 
we  find  nearly  fourteen  hundred  men  on  the  rolls, 
exclusive  of  three  months'  men  :  the  latter  would 
swell  the  number  to  about  eighteen  hundred  men. 
Of  the  former,  over  six  hundred  wrere  killed  and 
wounded — the  killed  alone  amounting  to  about 
one  hundred  and  thirty.  One  hundred  and  up 
wards  died  from  disease ;  while  more  than  six 
hundred  were  discharged  on  account  of  disability 
arising  from  various  causes.  Many  of  those  who 
were  on  the  rolls  at  the  time  the  regiment  was 
mustered  out  were  disabled  for  life,  and  were  only 
retained  for  the  want  of  an  opportunity  to  be  dis 
charged.  The  whole  number  of  able-bodied  officers 
and  men  returning  with  the  regiment  was  only  two 
hundred  and  forty-five,  leaving  upwards  of  eleven 
hundred  dead  and  disabled. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL   E.  B.  TYLER.* 

E.  B.  Tyler  entered  the  service  as  colonel  of  the 
Seventh.  He  brought  with  him  some  little  military 
experience,  having  been  a  brigadier-general  of  mili 
tia  before  the  rebellion  broke  out. 

When  General  McClellan  was  about  to  make  his 
advance  into  Western  Virginia,  he  selected  Tyler 
to  lead  the  way,  on  account  of  his  thorough  acquaint 
ance  with  that  wild  region,  he  having  been  engaged 
in  purchasing  furs  from  the  people  for  many  years. 
During  the  entire  summer  he  was  kept  well  out  to 
the  front.  He  was  finally  given  a  brigade,  with 
which  to  assist  General  Cox  in  driving  General 
Wise  from  the  valley.  He  moved  as  far  as  Somer- 
ville,  in  the  very  heart  of  the  enemy's  country,  and 
was  soon  after  in  the  skirmish  of  Cross  Lanes. 
From  this  time,  during  the  remainder  of  his  stay  in 
the  department,  he  was  in  command  at  Charleston, 
in  the  Kanawha  Yalley.  In  the  winter  following, 
he  was  ordered  to  Kelley's  department,  where  he 
was  again  given  a  brigade,  with  which  he  did  good 

*  General  Tyler  has  failed  to  furnish  us  any  data  from  which 
to  write  an  extended  sketch,  though  often  requested  to  do  so. 


188  THE    SEVENTH    EEGIMENT : 

service  on  the  outposts.  We  next  find  him  at  the 
battle  of  Winchester,  where  he  commanded  a  bri 
gade.  It  was  his  command  that  charged  the  bat 
tery,  for  which  it  acquired  so  much  renown.  His 
conduct  at  this  battle  won  him  a  star.  Pie  now 
served  with  his  command  in  the  Valley,  accom 
panying  it  to  the  Rappahannock  and  back.  After 
which  he  commanded  the  forces  in  the  battle  of 
Port  Republic.  His  conduct  in  this  engagement  is 
above  criticism.  No  general  could  have  made 
better  dispositions  than  he,  and  no  one  would  have 
met  with  better  success.  Defeat  was  certain  ;  and 
all  that  the  best  generalship  could  do,  was  to  save 
barely  a  remnant  of  the  command.  It  is  a  wonder 
that  any  artillery  was  saved.  He  gained  much 
reputation  in  his  command  for  the  manner  in  which 
he  acquitted  himself  in  this  battle.  He  soon  after 
left  his  old  brigade,  and  finally  took  command 
of  a  Pennsylvania  brigade,  which  he  led  in  the 
battle  of  Fredericksburg,  in  December,  1862.  He 
had  acquired  a  fine  reputation  with  Governor  Cur- 
tin,  and  his  conduct  in  this  battle  confirmed  it. 
The  spring  following  he  was  assigned  to  a  command 
in  Baltimore,  under  General  Schenck.  At  the  time 
of  the  raid  on  Washington,  in  the  summer  of  1864, 
he  was  at  the  front.  During  an  engagement  he  be 
came  separated  from  his  command,  and  only  es 
caped  by  dint  of  hard  riding.  After  remaining 


A    RECORD.  189 

concealed  for  some  days,  lie  escaped,  and  returned 
in  safety  to  our  lines.  After  this  campaign  lie 
returned  to  Baltimore,  where  he  is  at  the  present 
time  stationed. 

BREVET  BRIG.-GEN.  J.  S.  CASEMENT. 

J.  S.  Casement  came  into  the  regiment  as  major, 
and  was  just  the  man  for  the  place.  The  regiment 
needed  a  practical,  common-sense  sort  of  a  man, 
and  it  found  him  in  the  person  of  Jack  Casement. 
Many  of  his  previous  years  had  been  spent  in  the 
construction  of  railroads.  In  this  he  had  not  a 
superior  in  the  United  States.  He  is  of  small 
stature,  but  of  iron  frame ;  and  for  endurance  has 
few  equals.  He  will  shoulder  and  walk  off  under 
a  load  that  would  make  the  most  athletic  tremble. 
He  has  probably  superintended  the  laying  of  as 
much  track  as  any  man  of  his  age. 

On  joining  the  regiment,  the  major  at  once  made 
himself  useful  in  looking  after  matters  for  the 
comfort  of  the  command,  that  really  belonged  to 
no  one  to  look  to,  and  yet,  when  attended  to,  went 
far  to  improve  the  condition  of  the  men.  He  rap 
idly  acquired  a  knowledge  of  military  tactics,  which 
was  afterwards  to  fit  him  for  a  leader.  This  was 
not  difficult  for  him  to  do,  for  he  made  it  a  practi 
cal  study.  He  was  always  on  duty  when  the  oc 
casion  required  it.  This  habit  of  promptness  he 


190       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 

acquired  while  working  large  parties  of  men,  and  it 
never  left  him  during  his  service.  During  the  long 
marches  in  Western  Virginia,  he  was  ever  watchful 
as  to  how  matters  were  going  on  in  the  rear ;  and 
while  other  mounted  officers  were  riding  leisurely 
along,  he  was  ever  watchful  of  the  train,  as  well  as 
all  other  matters  connected  with  the  easy  move 
ment  of  the  command.  Arriving  in  carnp,  he  made 
it  his  business  to  see  that  all  was  snug.  At  the 
affair  at  Cross  Lanes  he  conducted  himself  with 
such  gallantry  as  to  endear  him  to  the  entire  regi 
ment.  He  rode  over  that  fatal  field  as  calm  and 
collected  as  on  drill.  When  his  superior  officers 
had  escaped,  he  organized  the  balance  of  the  com 
mand,  and  then  commenced  that  memorable  march 
over  the  hills  and  mountains,  through  the  valleys 
and  over  the  streams,  of  that  wild  waste.  It  was 
finally  crowned  with  success,  and  the  regiment  felt 
proud  of  its  major;  and  the  Western  Reserve  felt 
proud,  too,  that  they  had  sent  so  brave  a  man  to 
serve  with  so  brave  a  regiment.  He  now  did  his 
duty,  until  we  find  the  regiment  in  the  East,  and 
in  its  expedition  to  Blue's  Gap,  Major  Casement  at 
its  head.  Just  before  reaching  the  fortifications, 
he  made  a  speech.  Said  he :  "  Boys,  you've  not 
got  much  of  a  daddy,  but  with  such  as  you  have,  I 
want  you  to  go  for  those  rebels."  And  th-ey  did 
go  for  them  in  earnest.  It  seems  the  boys  did  not 


A   BECOKD.  191 

object  to  the  character  of  the  "  daddy."  He  now 
went  with  the  regiment  to  Winchester,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  that  battle.  He  sat  on  his  horse 
where  the  bullets  were  flying  thickest,  and  seemed 
to  be  a  stranger  to  fear.  When  the  battle  was 
nearly  over,  followed  by  a  few  men,  he  took  pos 
session  of  a  piece  of  artillery,  and  held  it  until  the 
close  of  the  action.  In  the  evening  succeeding  the 
battle,  he  found  that  ten  rifle-bullets  had  passed 
through  the  cape  of  his  coat  on  the  left  side,  near  to 
his  arm. 

Major  Casement  accompanied  the  regiment  on 
its  march  up  the  Valley,  making  himself  useful  in 
the  way  of  constructing  bridges  and  roads.  On 
arriving  at  Falmouth,  on  the  Rappahannock,  he 
tendered  his  resignation,  which  being  accepted,  he 
returned  to  his  home.  All  missed  the  merry  laugh, 
as  well  as  the  merry  jokes,  of  the  ever  happy 
major. 

He  was  not  long  permitted  to  enjoy  home,  how 
ever,  as  in  the  following  summer  he  was  made 
colonel  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Third  Ohio  Regi 
ment,  and  immediately  after  left  for  the  field.  His 
regiment  was  ordered  to  Kentucky,  in  which  de 
partment  he  served  until  Sherman's  triumphant 
march  on  Atlanta,  when  he  joined  him,  and  soon 
after  commanded  a  brigade.  In  this  campaign  he 
distinguished  himself.  After  Sherman,  left  for  Sa- 


192      THE  SEVENTH  EEGIMENTI 

vannah,  Casement  commanded  a  brigade  in  Thomas' 
army.  At  the  battle  of  Franklin,  which  followed, 
he  conducted  himself  in  such  a  brilliant  manner  as 
to  win  a  star  by  brevet.  He  now  took  part  in  the 
pursuit  of  the  disorganized  forces  of  Hood,  and 
when  it  ceased,  went  to  Wilmington,  North  Caro 
lina,  with  the  corps  of  General  Schofield,  where  he 
has  since  remained. 

The  career  of  this  dashing  officer  has  been  one  of 
usefulness,  and  his  numerous  friends,  as  well  as  the 
entire  country,  appreciate  his  services. 

BRIGADIER  JOHN  W.  SPRAGTJE.* 

General  Sprague  entered  the  service  as  captain 
of  Company  E.  He  immediately  gained  a  high 
character  as  an  officer,  both  for  his  fine  military 
bearing  and  gentlemanly  deportment.  His  com 
pany  was  first  in  discipline,  and  during  the  time 
he  was  in  command  not  one  of  his  men  was  under 
arrest.  His  influence  was  such,  that  they  seldom 
disobeyed  an  order.  They  regarded  their  captain 
as  a  fit  person  to  lead  them — one  whose  example 
was  worthy  of  imitation. 

During  the  trying  marches  in  "Western  Virginia, 

*  The  writer  has  been  unable  to  learn  sufficient  of  General 
Sprague's  services,  after  leaving  the  Seventh,  to  enable  him  to 
write  an  extended  sketch,  which  he  very  much  regrets,  for  his 
gallant  services  entitle  him  to  a  more  lengthy  notice. 


A    RECORD.  193 

Captain  Sprague  was  ever  at  his  post  to  encourage 
and  cheer  his  men.  A  few  days  previous  to  the 
Cross  Lanes  affair,  he  was  given  a  leave  of  absence ; 
and  soon  after  leaving  for  his  home,  he  was  taken 
prisoner  by  the  enemy's  cavalry.  He  remained  in 
prison  about  a  year,  suffering  all  the  hardships  that 
the  imagination  can  picture.  When  he  was  released, 
his  hair  had  become  gray,  and  his  every  appearance 
was  indicative  of  great  suffering.  On  his  return, 
he  was  immediately  commissioned  colonel  of  the 
Sixty-third  Ohio  Regiment,  and  very  soon  after 
entered  the  field.  From  this  time  on  he  did  gallant 
service  in  the  armies  of  the  West.  His  great  mili 
tary  talent  was  at  last  acknowledged,  and  his  vast 
services  rewarded  by  conferring  on  him  a  star.  He 
is  now  serving  in  the  West. 

LIEUT.-COL.   SAMUEL   McCLELLAND. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  native  of  Ireland. 
He  was  born  in  1829.  While  in  his  youth,  his 
parents  emigrated  to  this  country,  landing  at  Phila 
delphia,  from  whence  they  went  to  Pittsburgh.  Re 
maining  here  for  a  short  time,  they  removed  to 
Youngstown,  Ohio,  where  they  have  since  resided. 

He  entered  the  service  as  first-lieutenant  of  Com 
pany  I,  and  was  at  once  active  in  the  discharge  of 
his  duty.  He  accompanied  the  regiment  to  West 
ern  Virginia,  where  he  took  part  in  all  the  hard 


194  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

marches  that  followed.  At  the  affair  of  Cross 
Lanes,  he  demonstrated,  by  his  gallantry,  the  fact 
of  the  possession  of  great  military  talent ;  for  he 
was  brave,  prudent,  and  skilful.  Up  to  the  battle 
of  Winchester,  he  was  with  the  regiment  in  every 
march  and  skirmish.  At  this  battle  he  commanded 
a  company,  and  had  the  honor  of  opening  the  battle, 
and  sustaining  it  for  a  few  minutes,  till  other  com 
panies  formed  on  his  flanks. 

He  was  engaged  in  the  following  battles  a«d 
skirmishes,  which  embrace  every  one  in  which  the 
regiment  was  engaged  :  Cross  Lanes,  Winchester, 
Port  Republic,  Cedar  Mountain,  Antietam,  Dum 
fries,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Lookout  Moun 
tain,  Mission  Ridge,  and  Taylor's  Ridge.  The 
various  skirmishes  and  battles  during  the  march 
of  Sherman  to  Marietta,  are  to  be  added  to  this  list. 
At  the  battle  of  Winchester  he  was  slightly  wounded 
in  the  head,  but  remained  on  the  field,  against  the 
urgent  solicitations  of  his  friends,  until  the  close 
of  the  engagement.  At  the  battle  of  Taylor's  Ridge 
he  was  severely  wounded  in  the  leg.  He  now 
returned  to  his  home,  but  remained  but  a  short 
time,  rejoining  his  command  before  he  was  entirely 
recovered. 

While  in  the  East  he  was  made  captain  of  Com 
pany  H,  and  after  the  battle  of  Taylor's  Ridge, 
lieutenant-colonel.  He  now  took  command  of  the 


A    BECOBD.  195 

regiment ;  leading  it  through  the  arduous  campaign 
of  Sherman,  as  far  as  Marietta,  in  which  service  he 
won  a  fine  reputation  for  ability  as  an  officer.  He 
was  known  and  recognized  throughout  the  army  as 
the  fighting  colonel.  At  the  above  place,  the  old 
Seventh  turned  its  steps  homeward,  commanded  by 
Colonel  McClelland,  who  had  the  proud  satisfaction 
of  leading  the  regiment  into  Cleveland,  to  do  which 
the  lamented  Creighton  was  ever  ambitious. 

When  encamped  in  the  city,  he  set  himself 
industriously  at  work  preparing  the  regiment  to 
be  mustered  out ;  which  was  done  in  due  time. 

McClelland  was  one  of  the  few  officers  who  were 
ever  at  their  post.  He  was  brave,  active,  and  zealous, 
a  good  officer  in  every  particular.  His  kindness 
and  good  feeling  towards  his  fellow-soldiers  won 
him  many  friends.  His  family  have  suffered  se 
vere  loss,  two  brave  brothers  having  died  in  battle. 
During  all  this  affliction  he  has  remained  true  to 
his  country,  his  patriotism  never  growing  cold  for 
a  moment. 


196       THE  SEVENTH  KEGIMENT: 


MAJOR  FREDERICK  A.  SEYMOUR. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  carae  into  the  regiment 
as  captain  of  Company  G,  having  organized  the 
company  immediately  after  the  first  c.all  for  troops. 
He  had  seen  a  good  deal  of  service  in  the  militia  of 
his  native  State,  which  was  of  great  assistance  to 
him  in  this  new  position.  When  the  regiment  was 
organized  for  the  three-years'  service,  he  was  elected 
to  his  old  position,  which  was  an  indication  of  the 
esteem  his  company  had  for  him. 

During  the  terrible  campaign  among  the  moun 
tains  of  Western  Virginia,  his  health  became  very 
much  impaired  ;  till  just  previous  to  the  affair  at 
Cross  Lanes,  he  was  compelled  to  leave  his  com 
mand  and  seek  to  restore  it  in  his  home.  Therefore 
he  was  not  in  that  skirmish.  He  soon  after  re 
turned,  but  after  reaching  the  Shenandoah  Yalley 
his  health  again  failed  him,  and  he  once  more  sought 
to  restore  it  by  returning  to  his  home.  While  he 
was  absent  the  battle  of  Winchester  was  fought,  and 
he  therefore  did  not  take  part  in  the  engagement. 

He  now  accompanied  the  regiment  in  its  march 
up  the  Shenandoah  River,  across  the  Blue  Ridge, 
and  back  again  to  Front  Royal ;  and  from  thence  to 
Port  Republic.  In  the  battle  fought  at  the  latter 
place  he  was  conspicuous  for  bravery.  During  that 


A    RECORD.  197 

well-contested  action  he  contributed  all  that  lay  in 
his  power  towards  winning  a  victory.  But  valor 
alone  cannot  win  a  battle ;  numbers  combined  writh 
it  can  only  accomplish  that.  This  was  his  first  exper 
ience  under  fire ;  but  he  stood  up  to  the  work  like 
a  veteran  ;  being  second  to  none  in  deeds  of  daring. 

Soon  after  this  action  he  was  engaged  in  the  bat 
tle  of  Cedar  Mountain,  where  he  more  than  sus 
tained  the  reputation  acquired  at  Port  Republic. 
This  was  a  terrible  battle,  and  every  officer  and  pri 
vate  who  fought  there  became  a  hero. 

Fron^  this  time  forward  the  writer  has  no  know 
ledge  of  his  services,  beyond  tke  fact  that  he  was 
promoted  to  major;  which  position  he  filled  till 
some  time  in  the  fall  of  1863,  when  he  resigned,  and 
returned  to  his  home.  It  can  be  truly  said  that, 
wherever  Major  Seymour  was  placed,  he  endeavored 
to  do  his  duty.  Among  his  fellow-soldiers  he  had 
many  friends,  and  he  will  always  be  remembered  as 
a  kind-hearted  gentleman. 

SURGEON  FRANCIS  SALTER. 

Francis  Salter  entered  the  service  as  assistant 
surgeon  of  the  Seventh  Regiment;  and  on  the 
resignation  of  Surgeon  Gushing,  was  appointed 
surgeon.  He  held  this  position  until  the  latter 
part  of  1862,  when  he  was  made  a  medical  di- 


198       THE  SEVENTH  EEGIMENT: 

rector,  and  assigned  to  the  staff  of  General  Crooks. 
As  a  surgeon,  lie  hardly  had  a  superior  in  the 
service.  His  services  were  of  great  value  in  the 
hospitals,  as  he  had  had  a  long  experience  in  those 
of  England,  his  native  country.  He  has  remained 
in  the  service  from  the  beginning  of  the  war ;  and 
during  that  long  period  has  alleviated  the  suffer 
ing  of  many  a  soldier. 

C.  J.  BELLOWS. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  appointed  surgeon 
of  the  regiment,  from  the  position  of  assistant  in 
the  Fifth  Ohio.  Before  entering  the  service  he 
was  enjoying  a  good  practice  in  Northern  Ohio, 
in  which  he  had  acquired  a  good  reputation. 
While  with  the  regiment  he  was  much  esteemed, 
by  reason  of  his  ability  as  a  surgeon,  as  well  as  for 
his  kind  and  courteous  behavior. 

O.  E.  DENIG. 

On  the  appointment  of  Francis  Salter  to  the 
post  of  surgeon,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
made  assistant.  While  with  the  regiment  he  was 
attentive  to  his  duties,  and  always  kind  and  oblig 
ing  to  those  seeking  medical  aid.  He  many  times 
acted  as  surgeon  of  the  regiment ;  and  on  such 
occasions  was  always  prompt  in  the  discharge  of 
his  duty. 


A    EECOED.  199 

FREDERICK   T.  BROWN,  D.D. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Coshocton 
County,  Ohio,  of  respectable  and  pious  parents. 
His  father  was  a  wealthy  merchant,  and  therefore 
gave  his  son  a  liberal  education.  After  arriving 
at  a  proper  age,  he  was  sent  to  Princeton  College, 
!N"ew  Jersey,  where  he  graduated.  He  early  devel 
oped  those  Christian  qualities  which  he  has  pos 
sessed  in  such  an  eminent  degree  during  the  whole 
course  of  his  life.  He  was  born  to  be  a  minister. 
At  an  early  age  his  mind  took  a  lasting  hold  upon 
religious  truths  ;  and  it  has  never  relaxed  its  ener 
gies  in  that  direction  for  a  single  moment.  He 
has  gone  on  doing  good  from  a  child,  his  useful 
ness  only  increasing  as  his  mind  developed  its 
powers.  He  has  been  a  close  student  of  theology 
during  his  whole  life ;  and  it  is  doing  no  discredit 
to  others  to  say,  that  in  this  respect  he  has  hardly 
a  peer  in  the  United  States.  He  graduated  at  the 
Theological  Seminaries  at  Princeton,  New  Jersey, 
and  Geneva,  Switzerland. 

The  Westminster  Church,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
was  organized  by  him  ;  and  in  the  course  of  his 
nine  years'  labor  with  it,  increased  from  a  small 
congregation  to  one  of  the  most  respectable  reli 
gious  societies  of  the  city.  He  was  pastor  of  this 
church  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion. 


200  THE*  SEVENTH    EEGIMENTI 

While  the  Seventh  Regiment  was  at  Camp  Den- 
nison,  he  paid  it  a  visit  by  request  of  some  of  the 
officers,  and  was  immediately  chosen  its  chaplain, 
there  being  but  few  dissenting  voices.  Immediately 
returning  to  his  home,  he  tendered  his  resignation 
to  his  church,  which,  however,  was  not  accepted  ; 
but  in  its  stead,  he  was  voted  a  leave  of  absence, 
which  he  accepted,  but  refusing  to  draw  pay  during 
the  time.  He  joined  the  regiment  early  in  July, 
while  it  was  in  Western  Virginia,  and  at  once 
entered  upon  his  duties. 

While  here,  he  preached  a  sermon  in  one  of  the 
churches — to  the  rebel  as  well  as  Union  people  of 
•the  town— which  was  noted  for  the  powerful  argu 
ments  used  against  the  position  occupied  by  the 
South  in  relation  to  the  Federal  Government.  This 
effort  made  him  many  friends  in  the  village.  lie 
afterwards  had  a  large  influence  over  its  people, 
being  often  invited  to  their  homes.  On  such  occa 
sions  he  was  received  with  a  hearty  welcome  ;  al 
though  he  never  neglected  an  opportunity  to  re 
prove  them  for  the  opinions  cherished  by  them. 

While  at  Glenville,  Gilmer  County,  he  carried  a 
message  to  General  Cox,  whose  forces  were  some- 
wbere  on  the  banks  of  the  Kanawha  River.  This 
has  already  been  mentioned ;  but  as  it  was  an 
enterprise  attended  with  -'much  danger,  we  here 
copy  a  detailed  account  of  it. 


A    RECORD.  201 

About  the  15th  day  of  July,  Colonel  Tyler,  feel 
ing  it  important  to  open  communication  with  Gen 
eral  Cox's  forces  on  the  Kanawha,  determined  to 
send  a  messenger  with  unwritten  dispatches  across 
the  country  through  the  enemy's  lines  ;  and  as  our 
chaplain  could  more  readily  be  spared  than  any 
other  member  of  the  regiment  deemed  fitting  to 
undertake  the  enterprise,  the  expedition  was  pro 
posed  to  him.  He  accepted  i't  willingly,  though 
well  aware  of  its  difficulties  and  dangers.  Colonel 
Tyler  suggested  to  him  to  go  in  the  character  of  a 
merchant  or  trader,  so  that,  if  arrested  by  roving 
guerillas  or  any  of  Wise's  patrols,  he  could  say  he 
was  on  business  to  Gauley  Bridge,  or  some  other 
place.  But  he  declined  adopting  the  suggestion, 
as  involving  a  possible  lie,  and  asked  to  be  left  to 
his  own  resources. 

Hastily  divesting  himself  of  every  tell-tale  mark 
of  name,  residence,  or  connection  with  the  service, 
mounted  on  a  blooded  mare,  captured  from  some 
guerrillas  a  few  days  before,  and  taking  no  rations 
but  a  bunch  of  cigars,  an  hour  after  receiving  the 
order  he  started.  It  was  a  ride  of  a  hundred  and 
twenty  miles  through  the  enemy's  country,  by  high 
ways,  and  by  ways,  and  no  ways  at  all,  nearly  half 
of  it  at  night,  sometimes  alone,  full  of  adventures, 
amusing  and  otherwise,  aSd  involving  some  narrow 
escapes  from  the  enemy,  but  completely  successful. 


202  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

On  the  morning  of  the  third  day,  at  daylight,  he 
struck  the  Kanawha,  four  miles  below  the  mouth 
of  the  Pocotaligo ;  and  there,  for  the  first  time,  got 
word  of  General  Cox,  and  learned  that  his  camp 
was  only  four  miles  up  the  river.  It  was  Sunday 
morning.  He  was  soon  at  the  general's  quarters, 
and  in  the  language  of  the  chaplain  himself,  "  re 
ceived  such  a  welcome  as  that  genial  man  and 
accomplished  Christian  gentleman  knows  ho\r  to 
give."  General  Cox  refused  permission  to  him  Jo 
return  to  us  by  the  way  he  had  come.  He  there 
fore  remained  with  the  general  for  the  time ;  was 
with  him  at  the  capture  of  Charleston,  and  in  the 
pursuit  of  Wise  to  Gauley  Bridge,  from  whence  he 
joined  us  again.  Surviving  members  of  the  old 
Seventh  will  remember  u  the  three  times-three" 
cheers  of  each  company  in  succession,  as  the  chap 
lain  rode  along  the  line.  We  were  on  the  march, 
a  long  distance  from  where  he  had  left  us,  had  not 
heard  a  word  from  him  or  of  him,  and  had  thought 
him  lost ;  his  arrival,  safe  and  sound,  coming  from 
the  direction  of  the  enemy,  was  as  one  from  the 
dead,  or  from  Richmond. 

At  the  battle  of  Cross  Lanes  he  bore  a  gallant 
part,  remaining  with  the  command  during  the  entire 
affair,  and  leaving  only  when  all  hope  of  saving  the 
day  had  expired.  He  escaped,  with  others,  through 
a  gap  in  the  enemy's  lines,  caused  by  well-directed 


A    EECOBD.  203 

volleys  of  musketry  from  the  regiment.  The  same 
day  he  came  into  Gauley  Bridge,  after  having  ren 
dered  much  service  in  bringing  off  the  wagon-train, 
lie  soon  after  visited  Cross  Lanes,  under  a  flag  6*f 
truce,  for  the  purpose  of  looking  after  our  killed 
and  wounded,  as  well  as  to  learn  the  fate  of  those 
taken  prisoners.  While  within  the  enemy's  lines, 
he  was  treated  civilly,  but  was  refused  the  privilege 
of  administering  to  the  wounded,  as  well  as  visiting 
the  prisoners.  He  therefore  returned,  without  hav 
ing  accomplished,  in  the  least  degree,  the  object  of 
his  visit.  The  chaplain  was  soon  after  ordered  to 
Charleston,  where  the  scattered  members  of  the 
Seventh  had  been  collected. 

While  at  this  place  he  formed  an  agreeable  ac 
quaintance  with  many  gentlemen  of  learning  and 
ability,  at  whose  houses  he  was  a  frequent  visitor ; 
and  it  may  be  truly  said  that  on  such  occasions  he 
added  much  to  the  fund  of  enjoyment. 

While  the  regiment  was  at  Charleston,  a  misun 
derstanding  arose  between  the  chaplain  and  Colonel 
Tyler,  by  reason  of  which  the  former  felt  it  his  duty 
to  resign.  His  resignation  was  in  due  time  ac 
cepted,  and  he  was  honorably  mustered  out  of  the 
service ;  the  esteem  and  regrets  of  the  entire  com 
mand  going  with  him  to  his  home.  While  with  the 
regiment  his  conduct  had  been  above  suspicion,  and 
his  sudden  departure  caused  universal  gloom-. 


204  THE     SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

Shortly  after  returning  to  his  home  in  Cleveland, 
he  was  called  to  be  pastor  of  a  church  at  George 
town,  District  of  Columbia,  which  is  both  large  and 
influential. 

Not  forgetting  the  cause  of  his  country  and  her 
suffering  soldiery,  he  is  now  engaged,  in  addition  to 
his  pastoral  labors,  in  attending  to  the  wants  of  the 
sick  and  wounded  soldiers  at  the  various  hospitals 
in  the  vicinity  of  his  home.  Many  a  poor  soldier 
of  the  republic  will  remember  the  words  of  conso 
lation  which  have  fallen  on  his  ear  from  the  lips  of 
this  devoted  Christian. 

In  the  personal  appearance  of  Chaplain  Brown, 
alone,  there  is  a  character.  His  light,  fragile  figure, 
erect  and  graceful  carriage,  strikes  one  as  peculiarly 
fitting  to  his  elegant,  chaste,  and  mature  intellect. 
He  leaves  an  impression  on  the  mind  as  lasting  as  it 
is  positive.  In  his  company  the  dark  moments  are 
lighted  up.  Generous  and  manly,  he  would  distri 
bute  even  his  happiness  among  his  fellows,  were  it 
possible.  There  are  few  men  more  companionable 
than  he ;  and  few  ever  won  the  love  of  their  fellow- 
meii  equal  to  him.  Endowed  with  rare  conversa 
tional  powers  and  a  pleasing  address,  he  always 
commands  the  attention  of  those  around  him.  In 
public  speaking,  the  first  impression  he  makes  upon 
the  mind  of  the  hearer  is  not  such  as  would  lead 
him  to  expect  a  flowery  discourse ;  but  as  the 


A    BECORD.  205 

speaker  proceeds,  it  becomes  evident  that  dry 
logic  is  not  his  only  gift.  His  life  is  a  constant 
reflection  of  truth.  He  takes  a  great  grasp  on 
eternal  things ;  and  lives  greatly  by  seeking,  as  the 
one  high  aim  of  his  studies,  his  labors,  and  his 
prayers,  the  supreme  glory  of  God  in  the  everlasting 
welfare  of  man.  May  such  samples  of  Christian 
character  be  multiplied,  till  all  the  world  has  learned 
how  great  is  God,  and  how  great  is  GOODNESS. 

CHAPLAIN   D.  C.  WRIGHT. 

~D.  C.  Wright  was  appointed  chaplain  during  the 
winter  of  1861.  He  reported  to  the  regiment  at 
Patterson's  Creek,  Virginia. 

He  was  with  the  regiment  at  the  battle  of  Win 
chester,  where  he  rendered  much  assistance  in 
caring  for  the  wounded.  He  now  followed  the 
fortunes  of  the  Seventh  until  its  arrival  at  Port 
Republic,  at  which  battle  he  served  as  aid  to  Gen 
eral  Tyler.  During  the  entire  engagement  he  was 
much  exposed,  carrying  dispatches  in  the  most 
gallant  style  to  different  parts  of  the  field.  He  was 
mentioned  in  the  official  reports  for  gallant  conduct. 
After  this  battle  he  left  for  his  home,  and  finally 
sent  in  his  resignation,  which  was  duly  accepted. 

Before  the  war  broke  out  he  was  a  minister  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  acquired  no  little  reputation 
as  a  revivalist  preacher. 


206  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 


LIEUT.-COL.   GILES   W.  SHURTLIFF  * 

At  the  beginning  of  the  rebellion,  Giles  W. 
Shurtliff  was  one  of  the  teachers  in  the  college  at 

O 

Oberlin.  Immediately  after  the  bombardment  and 
capture  of  Fort  Suinter,  he  organized  a  company, 
principally  from  among  his  pupils,  and  reported  at 
Camp  Taylor.  He  was  with  the  regiment  in 
its  toilsome  marches  in  Western  Virginia,  during 
which  he  was  always  at  his  post.  During  the  a/ 
fair  at  Cross  Lanes  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  now 
began  those  terrible  hardships  which  no  pen  can 
describe,  nor  imagination  picture.  Prison  life  is  a 
sort  of  living  death, — a  state  of  abeyance,  where  the 
mind  is  thrown  back  upon  itself;  where  time,  al 
though  passing,  seems  to  stop,  and  the  great  world 
outside,  to  stand  still.  Through  all  this  trial,  and 
hardship,  and  misery,  Colonel  Shurtliff  passed,  with 
out  weakening  his  faith  or  his  patriotism.  He 
returned  to  his  home,  after  more  than  a  year's  im 
prisonment,  as  firm  in  the  support  of  the  Govern 
ment  as  ever.  After  allowing  himself  a  short  rest, 
he  served  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  on  staff- 
duty  ;  but  was  soon  after  made  lieutenant-colonel 

*  The  writer  would  be  glad  to  give  an  extended  account  of 
the  gallant  services  of  Colonel  Shurtliff  in  the  bloody  battles 
before  Richmond  and  Petersburg,  but  has  not  received  the  neces- 

sarv  facts. 


A    RECORD.  207 

of  the  Fifth  United  States  Colored  Infantry.  He 
has  since  greatly  distinguished  himself  in  the  nu 
merous  battles  in  the  vicinity  of  Richmond.  He 
is  at  the  present  time  at  his  post,  where  he  will 
probably  remain  until  the  rebellion  is  crushed,  and 
the  Government  vindicated. 

COLONEL   ARTHUR   T.  WILCOX. 

Arthur  T.  Wilcox  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  en 
tered  the  service  as  second -lieutenant  of  Company 
E.  On  the  organization  of  the  regiment  for  the 
three  years'  service,  he  was  made  a  first-lieutenant, 
and  assigned  to  the  same  company.  He  served 
with  much  credit  in  Western  Virginia,  until  the 
Cross  Lanes  affair,  when  he  was  taken  prisoner. 
He  remained  within  the  prison-walls  of  the  enemy 
for  more  than  a  year,  most  of  the  time  in  Charles 
ton,  South  Carolina,  suffering  every  hardship ;  but 
coining  out  as  true  and  pure  a  patriot  as  when  he 
went  in,  he  again  joined  his  regiment,  and  was 
soon  after  made  a  captain.  He  now  took  part  in 
all  the  battles  of  the  West,  in  which  the  regiment 
was  engaged, — Lookout  Mountain,  Mission  Ridge, 
Ringgold,  and  Sherman's  battles  in  the  march  on 
Atlanta.  He  came  home  with  the  regiment,  and 
was  in  due  time  mustered  out.  He  was  not,  how 
ever,  permitted  to  remain  long  at  home,  for,  when 
new  regiments  were  forming,  he  was  made  a  col- 


208       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT  I 

onel,  and  assigned  to  the  One  Hundred  and  Seventy- 
seventh  Regiment.  He  soon  after  joined  his  com 
mand,  and  was  almost  immediately  ordered  to  the 
front.  He  joined  General  Thomas'  forces,  then 
falling  back  before  the  forces  of  General  Hood. 
Arriving  at  Franklin,  he  was  engaged  in  the  bloody 
battle  fought  there,  and  greatly  distinguished  him 
self.  He  soon  after  arrived  at  Nashville  with  the 
army.  The  rebel  army  immediately  advanced  ;  and 
the  two  armies  stood  face  to  face,  at  the  same  time 
gathering  strength  for  a  desperate  conflict.  The 
Union  army  was  triumphant,  and  the  rebel  hosts 
were  beaten  and  demoralized.  In  this  battle,  Col 
onel  Wilcox  gained  new  laurels.  He  now  took 
part  in  the  pursuit  of  the  scattered  forces  of 
Hood. 

Every  one  who  has  fallen  in  company  with 
Colonel  Wilcox,  will  remember  him  as  a  genial 
friend  and  true  gentleman.  He  has  made  many 
friends  in  the  army  as  well  as  at  home.  He  has 
chosen  the  law  as  a  profession,  and  when  "  this  cruel 
war  is  over"  the  writer  wishes  him  the  success  his 
many  virtues  and  talents  merit. 

LIEUT.-COL.    JAMES   T.   STERLING. 

James  T.  Sterling  entered  the  service  as  first- 
lieutenant  of  Captain  De  Yilliers'  company.  On 
the  organization  of  the  regiment  for  the  three  years' 


A    EECOBD.  209 

service,  he  was  made  captain.  While  at  Camp 
Dennison  he  labored  diligently  to  perfect  his  com 
mand  in  both  drill  and  discipline ;  and  when  it 
entered  the  field  it  was  second  to  none,  so  far  as 
these  essentials  were  concerned. 

While  in  Western  Virginia,  Captain  Sterling  was 
on  many  scouts,  in  which  service  he  showed  great 
skill  and  bravery.  Such  adventures  were  very 
much  to  his  liking. 

In  the  affair  at  Cross  Lanes  he  won  the  respect 
of  all  those  who  were  witness  to  his  coolness  and 
daring.  During  the  march  to  Charleston  he  rr>ade 
a  good  account  of  himself,  being  one  of  the  most 
active  in  his  labors,  and  among  the  wisest  in  his 
opinions. 

He  now  followed  the  regiment  to  the  East,  where 
he  engaged  in  all  the  marches  and  skirmishes  which 
took  place.  At  the  battle  of  Winchester  he  com 
manded  two  companies ;  leading  them  into  the 
hottest  fire  like  a  veteran.  Durinsr  the  entire  action 

O 

he  stood  on  the  hill  urging  the  men  forward,  regard 
less  of  the  great  danger  to  which  he  himself  was 
exposed.  He  came  through  the  battle,  however, 
without  a  scratch,  but  with  some  holes  in  his 
clothing. 

He  now  took  part  in  the  long  chase  of  Jackson 
up  the  Yalley,  and  from  thence  to  Fredericksburg 
and  back  again ;  but  was  not  in  the  battle  of  Port 


210  THE    SEVENTH    EEGIMENT  *. 

Republic,  his  company  having  been  detailed  for 
headquarters  guard. 

Yery  soon  after  this  engagement  he  was  made 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Third 
Regiment,  at  that  time  about  to  be  raised  in  the 
vicinity  of  Cleveland.  He  soon  after  reported  to 
this  regiment  and  was  assigned  to  duty.  He  went 
with  it  to  the  field ;  but,  after  a  limited  period,  was 
assigned  the  position  of  inspector-general  on  the 
staff  of  General  Cox.  He  filled  this  position  with 
much  credit  to  himself,  until  early  in  the  year  186i, 
when  he  resigned  and  returned  to  his  home  in 
Cleveland. 

Colonel  Sterling,  as  an  officer,  was  much  esteemed. 
As  a  companion,  he  was  much  admired.  His  easy 
manners  and  agreeable  conversation  gathered  about 
him  many  friends.  Every  one  regretted  his  de 
parture  from  the  Seventh ;  he  had  been  with  it 
through  so  many  trials  and  dangers,  that  he  was 
closely  identified  with  it.  His  company  thought 
well  of  him,  and,  therefore,  his  unexpected  depart 
ure  caused  many  regrets. 

COLONEL  JOEL  F.  ASPER. 

Joel  F.  Asper  was  born  in  Iluntlngton,  Adams 
County,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  20th  day  of  April, 
1822.  When  he  was  but  five  years  old  his  father 
removed  to  Farmington,  Ohio,  by  the  slow  process 


A     BECOED.  211 

of  a  four-horse  team  and  Pennsylvania  wagon. 
The  county  of  Trumbull  was  then  but  sparsely 
settled. 

Until  eighteen  years  of  age  he  assisted  his  father 
in  clearing  a  farm,  at  the  same  time  attending  a 
dristrict  school  in  winter.  This  is  all  the  school 
education  he  ever  had  ;  all  other  education  being 
acquired  by  his  own  exertion  and  application  to 
study  out  of  school. 

Having  a  passion  for  reading  and  writing,  he 
was  led  to  study  law.  But  previous  to  this,  how 
ever,  he  commenced  teaching  a  school  in  Southing- 
ton,  but,  for  some  reason,  left  it  after  one  month's 
experience.  Early  in  the  year  1842,  we  find  him 
in  the  law-office  of  Crowell  and  Abel,  at  Warren, 
Ohio,  and  working  for  his  board  at  the  American 
Hotel. 

In  1843,  he  carried  the  Western  Reserve  Chron 
icle  through  several  townships,  and  during  the  en 
tire  year  did  not  miss  a  trip. 

In  August,  1844,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  but 
remained  with  General  Cro\rell  till  1845,  when  he 
learned  the  daguerrean  business,  but  not  succeeding 
in  this,  in  October  following  opened  a  law-office  at 
Warren.  His  first  year's  practice  netted  him  over 
four  hundred  dollars,  and  it  increased  from  year  to 
year. 

In  1846  be  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and 


212  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT! 

in  the  following  year  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Brown. 

In  1847  he  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney.  In 
1849,  was  announced  as  one  of  the  editors  of  the 
Western  Reserve  Chronicle ;  and  wrote,  durino-  the 

o 

campaign  of  that  year,  all  of  the  leading  political 
articles  published  in  its  columns.  During  the 
summer  of  1848,  Mr.  Parker,  proprietor  of  the 
paper,  left  for  a  pleasure  excursion,  and  while 
absent,  Mr.  Asper,  being  left  in  charge,  took 
ground  against  General  Taylor.  During  this  cam 
paign  he  did  much  towards  developing  anti-slavery 
sentiments  in  the  party.  For  this  conduct  he  was 
denounced  by  the  minority  of  his  party.  At  this 
time  he  made  a  speech  before  a  Whig  convention, 
which  is  said  to  have  been  the  best  effort  of  his  life. 
Carrying  out  these  sentiments,  he  sustained  Martin 
Yan  Buren  for  the  presidency,  and  in  the  following 
year  ran  for  prosecuting  attorney  on  the  Free-Soil 
ticket,  but  was  defeated. 

In  1850  he  moved  to  Chardon,  Ohio,  and  edited 
a  Free-Soil  paper  until  1852,  when,  it  proving  a 
losing  business,  he  returned  to  Warren,  where  he 
again  commenced  the  practice  of  the  law,  which 
he  continued  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebel 
lion,  in  1861.  He  was  among  the  first  in  Northern 
Ohio  to  tender  a  company  to  the  Governor.  It 
marched  to  camp  on  the  25th  of  April.  He  served 


A     KECOKD.  213 

in  the  regiment  until  March,  1863,  when  he  was  hon 
orably  mustered  out  of  the  United  States  service. 
During  this  time  he  took  part  in  the  affair  of  Cross 
Lanes  and  the  battle  of  Winchester,  in  which  last 
engagement  he  was  severely  wounded.  After  the 
Cross  Lanes  affair  he  accompanied  a  detachment 
of  four  hundred  men  to  Charleston,  rendering  much 
assistance  during  the  march.  He  was  promoted  to 
lieutenant-colonel  during  his  service  with  the  regi 
ment,  in  which  position  he  commanded  the  regi 
ment  in  the  retreat  of  Pope's  army  from  the  Rapi- 
dan. 

On  returning  to  Warren  he  opened  an  office,  and 
in  August  organized  the  Fifty -first  Regiment  Na 
tional  Guards,  and  was  elected  its  colonel. 

When,  in  the  spring  of  1864,  the  corps  was  or 
dered  into  the  field,  his  regiment  was  among  the 
first  to  move.  It  went  to  Johnson's  Island,  and 
while  there  the  noted  John  II.  Morgan  commenced 
a  raid  through  Kentucky.  To  resist  him,  several 
militia  regiments  were  ordered  to  the  front ;  among 
them  was  the  Fifty-first,  now  become  the  One  Hun 
dred  and  Seventy-first. 

Arriving  at  Cincinnati,  he  reported  to  General 
Hobson,  and  was  ordered  to  Keller's  Bridge  by 
train.  Soon  after  getting  off  the  cars,  it  was  at 
tacked  by  the  enemy  in  overwhelming  numbers. 
After  a  gallant  fight  of  six  hours,  the  brave  little 


214  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

band  of  heroes  was  compelled  to  surrender.  No 
regiment  of  new  troops  ever  did  better  :  it  made 
itself  a  name  which  history  will  perpetuate. 

The  regiment  was  mustered  out  on  the  20th  of 
August,  1864.  Asper  now  perfected  his  arrange 
ments  to  move  to  Missouri,  which  he  put  into 
execution  in  October  following.  He  is  now  en 
gaged  in  the  practice  of  law  at  Chillicothe,  in  the 
above  State. 

* 
MAJOR  W.  R.  STERLING. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  entered  the  service  as 
Captain  of  Company  I.  He  carried  with  him  some 
considerable  military  experience,  having  been  con 
nected  with  a  company  in  his  native  State.  He 
accompanied  the  regiment  in  its  Western  Virginia 
campaign,  taking  an  honorable  part  in  the  affair  at 
Cross  Lanes.  He  was  with  the  detachment  in  its 
march  over  the  mountains  to  Charleston,  during 
which  he  rendered  great  assistance,  contributing 
largely  towards  bringing  the  command  off  in 
safety. 

From  Charleston  he  returned  to  his  home  on 
leave,  but  soon  after  returned  to  his  command, 
accompanied  by  a  number  of  recruits.  He  now 
took  part  in  the  various  marches  and  skirmishes 
occurring  in  the  mountain  department  of  Eastern 
Virginia.  He  was  not  in  the  battles  of  Winchester 


A    BECOBD.  215 

or  Port  Republic ;  but  was  in  all  the  marches  oc 
curring  before  and  after  those  engagements.  At 
the  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain  he  did  yeoman's 
service.  His  company  was  led  with  such  coolness 
and  bravery,  that  many  a  rebel  was  made  to  bite 
the  dust.  He  now  remained  with  the  regiment 
until  General  Hooker  came  to  the  command  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  when  Captain  Sterling 
was  assigned  a  position  on  his  staff.  In  this  capa 
city  he  served  until  after  the  battle  of  Chancellors- 
ville.  A  short  time  after  this  engagement  he  was 
taken  prisoner  by  a  roving  band  of  rebels,  and 
conveyed  to  Richmond,  where  he  was  for  some 
time  confined  in  prison.  He  was  finally  taken 
further  south  to  another  prison,  from  which,  in 
the  summer  of  1864,  he  escaped  ;  and  after  spend 
ing  some  time  in  the  mountains,  during  which  he 
suffered  many  hardships,  finally  joined  the  Union 
forces  in  Tennessee. 

He  was  a  brave  and  competent  officer.  While 
on  Hooker's  staff  he  was  promoted  to  major. 

MAJOR  E.  J.  KREIGER. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  native  of  Germany, 
and  entered  the  service  as  a  sergeant  in  a  company 
composed  of  his  fellow-countrymen.  He  very  soon 
rose  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant,  and  before  the  term 
of  service  of  the  regiment  expired,  to  that  of  cap- 


216       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 

tain.  He  was  in  the  following  battles  and  skir 
mishes  :  Cross  Lanes,  Winchester,  Port  Eepublic, 
Cedar  Mountain,  Aritietara,  Dumfries,  Chancel- 
lorsville,  Gettysburg,  Mission  Ridge,  Lookout 
Mountain,  Binggold,  and  in  all  the  engagements 
in  which  his  regiment  took  part  in  Sherman's 
march  on  Atlanta.  ~No  officer  can  show  a  prouder 
record.  He  was  always  with  his  command,  and  on 
all  occasions  showed  great  bravery  and  gallantry, 
as  well  as  ability  to  command. 

Immediately  after  the  Seventh  was  mustered  out, 
he  was  appointed  major  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Seventy-seventh  Eegiment,  and  left  soon  after  for 
the  field.  He  now  added  to  the  above  glorious  list  of 
battles  that  of  Franklin,  where  he  fully  sustained 
the  honors  that  he  gained  while  with  the  old  Sev 
enth.  He  is  at  the  present  time  in  General  Thomas' 
army,  where  he  will  remain,  if  his  life  is  spared, 
until  the  overthrow  of  the  rebellion. 

CAPTAIN  J.  B.  MOLYNEAUX. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born,  January  1, 
1840,  at  Ann  Arbor,  in  the  State  of  Michigan.  At 
the  age  of  four  years  his  father  removed  to  Penn 
Yan,  New  York,  and  soon  after  to  Bath  and  Elmira, 
in  the  same  State.  In  1854,  young  Molyneaux 
went  to  Belville,  Ohio,  and  commenced  the  study 
of  medicine  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Whitcomb.  He 


A    RECORD.  217 

remained  for  nearly  a  year,  when,  not  liking  the 
study,  he  went  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  entered  the 
job-office  of  John  Williston,  where  he  learned  the 
art  of  printing. 

Having  a  natural  liking  for  military  life,  he  joined 
the  Light  Guards,  and  afterwards  the  Sprague 
Cadets,  of  which  he  was  appointed  drill-master. 
On  the  first  call  for  troops,  he  joined  a  company 
being  raised  by  Captain  De  Yilliers,  as  a  private, 
being  among  the  first  to  enroll  his  name.  Soon 
after  arriving  in  camp,  he  was  appointed  a  sergeant, 
and,  immediately  after,  drill-master  for  the  non 
commissioned  officers  of  the  regiment.  On  the 
three  years'  organization,  he  was  unanimously 
chosen  first-lieutenant  by  the  vote  of  his  company. 
He  remained  with  this  company  during  the  earlier 
part  of  the  campaign  in  Western  Virginia,  taking 
a  gallant  part  in  the  affair  of  Cross  Lanes,  as  also 
in  the  final  march  of  Major  Casement's  detachment 
to  Charleston.  After  this  action,  he  was  placed  in 
command  of  Company  E,  which  command  he  held 
until  January,  1862,  and  then  being  relieved,  only 
for  the  purpose  of  receiving  the  appointment  of 
adjutant. 

He  took  part  in  all  the  marches  and  skirmishes 
in  both  Western  and  Eastern  Virginia.  At  the 
battle  of  Winchester,  he  was  mentioned,  in  the 

official  report  of  his  colonel,  for  gallantry  on  the 

10 


218       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 

battle-field.  At  the  battle  of  Port  Kepublic,  he 
won  new  laurels,  being  constantly  under  the  en 
emy's  fire.  In  the  fearful  struggle  at  Cedar  Moun 
tain,  he  particularly  distinguished  himself.  He 
was,  for  a  limited  time,  in  command  of  the  regi 
ment,  during  which  he  extricated  it  from  a  position, 
where,  under  a  less  skilful  leader,  it  would  have 
been  captured.  In  this  gallant  exploit,  Molyneaux 
lost  two  horses,  one  of  them  being  pierced  by  four 
teen  bullets. 

In  September,  1862,  he  was  appointed  captain, 
after  having  waived  rank  three  times.  This  posi 
tion  he  held  until  March,  1863,  when,  on  account 
of  wounds  and  ill-health,  he  was  compelled  to  re 
sign.  In  the  mean  time,  he  was  with  the  regiment 
in  all  its  marches,  as  well  as  the  battle  of  Antietam 
arid  the  aifair  at  Dumfries. 

On  his  return  home  he  followed  his  occupation 
of  a  printer,  until  the  governor's  call  for  the  Na 
tional  Guard,  when  he  again  entered  the  service  as 
a  captain.  His  regiment  being  stationed  in  the 
defences  of  Washington,  he  was  placed  in  command 
of  a  fort,  which  was,  a  part  of  the  time,  garrisoned 
by  several  companies.  After  the  expiration  of  his 
term  of  service,  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Cleve 
land,  and, resumed  his  business. 


A     RECORD.  219 


CAPTAIN   CHARLES    A.  WEED. 

Charles  A.  Weed  was  born,  March  30,  ISiO,  in 
Lake  County,  Ohio.  He  enlisted  in  Captain  John 
!N.  Dyer's  company,  on  the  22d  day  of  April, 
1861.  After  its  arrival  in  cantp,  he  was  made 
orderly-sergeant,  in  which  capacity  he  developed 
fine  military  talent,  such  as  led  his  company,  at 
an  early  time,  to  look  upon  him.  as  a  proper 
person  for  promotion  when  a  vacancy  should  occur. 
Therefore,  on  the  final  organization  of  the  company 
for  the  three  years'  service,  he  was  made  a  first- 
lieutenant.  He  was  with  the  regiment  during  the 
entire  Western  Virginia  campaign,  taking  part  in 
the  skirmish  at  Cross  Lanes,  in  which  he  took  com 
mand  of  the  company  after  the  death  of  Captain 
Dyer,  which  position  he  held  until  January,  1862, 
when  he  was  relieved  by  an  officer  promoted  to 
the  captaincy  by  reason  of  superiority  of  rank. 
He  was  soon  after  made  captain,  February  5,  1862, 
and  assigned  to  Company  E. 

He  now  took  part  in  all  the  marches  and  skir 
mishes  in  Eastern  Yirginia,  and  also  in  the  battle 
of  Winchester,  where  he  displayed  great  gallantry. 
After  this  battle,  he  commanded  his  company  in 
the  pursuit  of  Jackson  to  Harrisonburg,  and  in  the 
toilsome  march  to  Frederieksburg,  and  the  return 
to  Front  Royal.  He  was  'now  in  the  advance  to 


220       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 

Port  Republic.  In  the  battle  which  succeeded, 
he  displayed  great  courage,  as  well  as  ability  to 
command.  He  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Cedar 
Mountain  and  Antietam,  and  also  in  the  skirmish 
at  Dumfries.  On  the  22d  of  February,  1863,  he 
resigned,  and  returned  to  his  home. 

There  were  few  better  officers  in  the  regiment. 
He  was  prompt  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  seldom 
questioning  the  propriety  of  an  order  emanating 
from  a  superior,  but  executing  it  at  once.  In  Jiis 
intercourse  with  his  fellow-soldiers,  he  was  frank 
and  courteous,  and  all  cherished  the  kindest  feelings 
towards  him. 

CAPTAIN  JUDSON  K   CROSS. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  native  of  Ohio. 
When  the  war  broke  out  he  was  attending  college 
at  Oberlin,  Ohio.  He  immediately  enrolled  him 
self  in  Captain  Shurtliif's  company,  and  was  soon 
after  made  a  first-lieutenant.  He  served  with  his 
company  in  Western  Virginia,  with  much  credit  to 
himself  and  profit  to  his  country.  At  the  skirmish 
of  Cross  Lanes  he  was  brave,  and  showed  that  he 
was  competent  to  command.  During  the  affair,  he 
was  severely  wounded  in  the  arm  and  taken  prisoner. 
At  the  battle  of  Carnifcx  Ferry,  which  followed 
soon  after,  he  was  recaptured  by  the  forces  under 
General  Rosecrans.  Being  unfit  for  service,  he  now 


A    RECORD.  221 

went  to  his  home,  where  it  was  thought  he  might 
recover  sufficiently  to  rejoin  his  command.  But 
after  the  expiration  of  some  months,  being  still 
unable  for  service,  he  was  ordered  on  recruiting 
service  at  Cleveland,  Ohio.  He  was  engaged  in 
this  work  until  the  fall  of  1862,  when  he  was 
honorably  mustered  out  of  the  service,  on  account 
of  the  unimproved  condition  of  his  wound.  In  the 
mean  time,  however,  he  had  been  promoted  to  a 
captaincy. 

CAPTAIN  JOHN  F.  SCHUTTE. 

Entered  the  service  as  a  lieutenant  in  Captain 
Wiseman's  company,  and  on  its  organization  for 
three  years,  was  made  its  captain.  He  was  with 
the  regiment  until  just  before  its  affair  at  Cross 
Lands,  when,  being  on  picket  duty  on  the  banks- of 
the  Gauley  River,  he  imprudently  crossed  over, 
and  after  advancing  some  miles  into  the  enemy's 
country,  was  fired  upon  by  a  body  of  cavalry,  con 
cealed  in  the  bushes,  and  mortally  wounded.  After 
being  taken  to  an  old  building  close  by,  he  was  left, 
at  his  own  request,  and  soon  after  expired.  The 
rebels  buried  him  on  the  spot.  No  braver  officer 
ever  entered  the  service.  Had  he  lived,  he  would 
undoubtedly  have  distinguished  himself. 

At  the  time  of  his  death,  no  officer  had  a  better 
reputation.     His  company  was  somewhat  difficult 


222  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

to  manage,  but  while  he  was  in  command,  it  was 
not  surpassed  for  discipline,  and  hardly  equalled. 
He  was  kind  to  every  one  who  did  his  duty,  but 
when  one  of  his  men  failed  to  do  that,  he  came 
down  upon  him  with  a  heavy  hand. 

His  loss  was  deeply  felt  throughout  the  entire 
command.  His  company  had  recognized  in  him 
a  leader,  and  they  deplored  his  loss. 

LIEUT.   LOUIS    G.   DE   FOREST. 

Louis  G.  De  Forest  was  born  in  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
on  the  9th  of  September,  1838.  His  youth  was 
spent  in  the  city  schools,  where  he  acquired  a  fair 
education.  In  1853,  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  he 
entered  the  store  of  N".  E,  Crittenden.  It  is  a  high 
compliment  to  his  industry  and  business  habits, 
that  he  has  remained  in  his  employ  since  that  date, 
with  the  exception  of  the  time  that  he  spent  in  the 
military  service. 

Having  a  natural  taste  for  military  life,  in  1859  he 
joined  a  company  of  Light  Guards  as  a  private,  but 
soon  rose  to  the  positions  of  corporal,  sergeant,  and 
finally  lieutenant.  The  latter  position  he  filled 
with  credit,  until  the  rebellion  broke  out,  when,  on 
the  organization  of  the  Sprague  Cadets,  for  three 
months'  service,  he  hastened  to  enrol  his  name. 
He  was  soon  made  orderly  sergeant,  which  position 
he  held  when  the  company  went  into  camp.  After 


A     EECOBD.  223 

the  regiment  arrived  in  Camp  Dennison,  he  was 
elected  a  second-lieutenant  of  his  company.  And 
on  its  final  organization  for  the  three  years'  service, 
he  was  chosen  its  adjutant,  by  a  vote  of  its  officers, 
and  soon  after  received  his  commission,  with  the 
rank  of  first-lieutenant. 

He  accompanied  the  regiment  in  its  arduous 
Western  Virginia  campaign,  and  during  the  time 
Colonel  Tyler  commanded  a  brigade,  he  served  as 
acting  assistant  adjutant-general.  At  the  affair  at 
Cross  Lanes,  he  took  a  prominent  as  well  as  gallant 
part.  He  was  among .  the  number  of  those  who 
made  the  march  over  the  mountains  to  Elk  River 
and  Charleston. 

He  accompanied  the  regiment  to  Kelly's  depart 
ment,  where  he  again  acted  as  acting  assistant 
adjutant-general  to  Colonel  Tyler,  serving  in  this 
capacity  until  his  resignation,  which  took  place  in 
March. 

"When  the  National  Guard  was  organized,  he 
raised  a  company,  and  was  made  its  captain.  In 
this  position  he  served  during  the  one  hundred  days' 
campaign  of  this  corps,  being  stationed  in  a  fort  in 
the  vicinity  of  Washington. 

Every  one  who  came  in  connection  with  the 
Seventh  Regiment  will  remember  the  stentorian 
voice  and  soldierly  bearing  of  its  first  adjutant. 


224       THE  SEVENTH  EEGIMENT: 

LIEUTENANT  HALBERT  B.  CASE. 

Halbert  B.  Case  was  born  in  Trumbxill  County, 
Ohio,  May  3,  1838.  His  father  being  a  farmer, 
lie  was  bred  to  that  occupation.  At  the  age  of 
sixteen  years  he  entered  the  W.  R.  Seminary,  at 
Farmington,  Ohio,  preparatory  to  entering  college. 
After  a  year  and  a  half  spent  in  this  institution 
of  learning,  he  went  to  Oberlin,  where  he  pursued 
his  studies  for  more  than  three  years,  when, 
his  health  failing  him,  he  was  compelled  to  leave 
college. 

During  the  winter  of  1859,  his  health  being  some 
what  improved,  he  went  to  Tiffin,  Ohio,  and  com 
menced  the  study  of  the  law.  He  remained  here 
two  winters.  In  the  spring  of  1860,  being  in 
indifferent  health,  he  returned  to  his  home  in 
Mecca,  Ohio,  where  he  pursued  his  studies  privately 
for  some  months.  After  which  he  went  to  Warren, 
and  studied  law  with  Forrist  and  Burnett  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  rebellion. 

On  the  19th  day  of  April,  1861,  deeming  it  his 
duty  to  serve  his  country,  he  enlisted  in  Asper's 
company,  the  first  organized  in  the  county.  He 
was  soon  after  made  orderly-sergeant.  When  the 
three  years'  organization  was  made,  he  was  unani 
mously  chosen  a  lieutenant  by  a  vote  of  his  com 
pany. 


A    RECORD.  225 

He  served  honorably  during  the  campaign  in 
Western  Virginia,  taking  an  active  part  in  the 
affair  of  Cross  Lanes,  sharing  the  fortunes  of  the 
detachment  under  Major  Casement. 

Among  the  first  promotions  that  were  made  in 
November,  1861,  he  was  remembered  by  the  au 
thorities,  and  appointed  a  first-lieutenant.  lie  ac 
companied  the  regiment  to  Eastern  Virginia,  where 
he  joined  the  expedition  to  Eomney  and  Blue's 
Gap. 

"While  at  Patterson's  Creek  he  felt  it  his  duty  to 
resign  his  commission,  on  account  of  a  personal 
difficulty  with  Colonel  Tyler.  He  therefore  left 
the  regiment  early  in  February,  with  the  regrets 
of  the  entire  command. 

He  was  not  long  permitted  to  remain  at  home, 
for  his  former  services  were  acknowledged  by  giv 
ing  him  a  commission  as  captain  in  the  Eighty- 
fourth  Regiment,  which  was  being  organized  for 
three  months'  service.  This  position  being  ac 
cepted,  he  proceeded  with  his  regiment  to  Cum 
berland,  Maryland.  Soon  after  its  arrival  he  was 
made  provost-marshal  and  commandant  of  the  post. 
In  this  position  he  won  an  enviable  reputation. 
Among  his  first  orders  was  one  against  the  use  and 
sale  of  intoxicating  liquors,  which  he  proceeded  to 
enforce  in  an  effectual  manner  ;  and  thus  materially 

aided  in  maintaining  order  and  quiet  at  the  post. 
10* 


226       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 

After  nearly  five  months'  service,  when  the  regi 
ment  was  mustered  out,  he  was  appointed  colonel, 
for  the  purpose  of  reorganizing  it  for  three  years' 
service.  He  immediately  entered  upon  this  task  ; 
but  owing  to  the  number  of  regiments  at  that  time 
being  organized  in  Northern  Ohio,  he  was  but 
partially  successful.  The  regiment  being  finally 
consolidated  with  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
fourth  Ohio,  he  returned  to  his  home. 

He  soon  after  entered  the  law-school  at  Ann 
Arbor,  Michigan ;  and  after  a  year  and  a  half 
spent  at  this  university,  he  graduated,  with  the 
degree  of  L.  L.  B.  Soon  after,  he  returned  home, 
married,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  pro 
fession  at  Youngstown,  Ohio. 

LIEUTENANT   HENRY  Z.  EATON. 

Lieutenant  Eaton  entered  the  service  as  a  private, 
but  on  the  three  years'  organization  was  made  a 
second-lieutenant.  He  was  with  the  regiment 
constantly  during  the  campaign  in  Western  Yir- 
ginia,  and  always  at  his  post.  He  took  an  im 
portant  part  in  the  Cross  Lanes  affair,  and  in  the 
march  of  Major  Casement  s  detachment. 

He  now  went  to  the  East  with  the  regiment, 
when  Colonel  Tyler  being  given  a  brigade,  he 
was  assigned  to  his  staff  as  aid-de-camp.  He  held 
this  position  at  the  battle  of  Winchester;  and  no 


A    KECOKD.  227 

one  in  the  army  did  better  service.  He  was  con 
stantly  in  the  saddle,  riding  fearlessly  in  the  heat 
of  the  battle,  a  fair  mark  for  the  rebels.  During 
the  engagement  his  horse  was  wounded.  He  was 
mentioned  in  official  reports  for  gallant  conduct. 
He  soon  after  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Port  Re 
public,  where  he  added  much  to  his  already  well- 
earned  reputation  for  courage  and  other  soldierly 
qualities.  He  now  followed  the  regiment  to  Alex 
andria,  where  he  returned  to  his  company  and  to 
the  front  of  Pope's  army,  where  he  was  at  the 
battle  of  Cedar  Mountain,  in  which  he  was  severely 
wrounded.  He  soon  after  returned  to  his  home, 
and  finally  resigned,  on  account  of  disability  from 
wounds. 

LIEUTENANT  A.  H.  DAY. 

A.  H.  Day  was  a  lieutenant  in  company  F,  in 
which  capacity  he  accompanied  the  regiment  iri 
Western  and  Eastern  Virginia,  taking  part  in  the 
battles  of  Winchester  and  Port  Republic,  in  both 
of  which  he  did  good  service.  In  the  latter  he  was 
severely  wounded  in  the  shoulder,  by  reason  of 
which  he  was  soon  after  compelled  to  resign. 

LIEUTENANT  WILLIAM  D.  SHEPHERD. 

William  D.  Shepherd  entered  the  service  as  a 
private  in  company  D.  He  was  soon  after  made  a 


228  THE  ^SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 

sergeant,  and  at  Camp  Dennison,  orderly.  He  fol 
lowed  the  fortunes  of  his  company  through  the 
wilds  of  Western  Virginia  till  the  aifair  at  Cross 
Lanes,  where  he  showed  great  gallantry.  He 
went  with  his  company  to  Charleston,  where,  in 
the  absence  of  Lieutenant  Weed,  he  took  com 
mand.  During  this  time  the  company  was 
detailed  to  guard  a  party  who  were  engaged 
in  erecting  a  telegraph  line  from  Point  Pleasant 
to  Gauley  Bridge.  In  this  service  he  gave  good 
satisfaction  to  all  concerned  in  the  undertaking. 

o 

He  now  remained  with  his  command  until  a 
few  days  before  the  battle  of  Winchester,  when  he 
was  compelled  to  leave  the  field  on  account  of. 
inflammation  in  one  of  his  eyes.  It  had  become 
very  painful  long  before  he  would  consent  to  go 
to  the  rear.  A  fever  soon  following,  he  was  com 
pletely  prostrated.  He  now  went  to  his  home, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  the  recruiting  service. 
He  returned  to  his  regiment  late  in  the  summer, 
and  having  been  promoted  to  first-lieutenant,  was 
immediately  made  adjutant.  He  served  with  the 
regiment  in  this  capacity  until  after  the  aifair  at 
Dumfries,  when  he  was  compelled  to  resign  on 
account  of  ill-health. 

After  his  return  home  he  did  great  service  in 
recruiting.  In  the  winter  of  1863-4  he  canvassed 
Lake  and  Geanga  counties,  and  was  the  means  of 


A    RECORD     •••+••'  229 

enlisting  a  large  number  of  men.  On  these  occa 
sions  he  made  speeches,  of  which  any  public 
speaker  might  well  be  proud. 

In  the  fall  of  1864  he  raised  a  company  for  the 
National  Guard,  which  he  commanded  in  the  one 
hundred  days'  service.  Returning  to  his  home,  he 
was  appointed  a  quartermaster,  with  the  rank  of 
captain,  and  assigned  to  a  division  in  the  Twenty- 
third  Army  Corps. 

His  promotion  was  won  in  the  field,  and  there 
fore  honorable.  His  commission  as  second-lieuten 
ant  bears  the  date  of  November  25th,  1861  ;  and 
that  of  first-lieutenant  early  in  the  following  year. 

Every  one  who  has  fallen  in  company  with 
Lieutenant  Shepherd  will  remember  him  as  a  ge 
nial  friend  and  profitable  companion.  His  frank 
ness  and  courtesy  have  made  him  many  friends. 
To  know  him,  is  to  esteem  him.  I  doubt  whether 
he  has  an  enemy  in  the  world.  He  has  always 
been  a  warm  supporter  of  the  Government,  al 
though  not  an  American  citizen  by  birth,  having 
been  born  in  Canada. 

LIEUTENANT   E.  HUDSON   BAKER. 

Lieutenant  Baker  entered  the  service  in  Company 
C.  He  remained  with  the  regiment  during  its  en 
tire  campaign  in  Western  Virginia,  doing  good 
service.  At  the  affair  at  Cross  Lanes,  he  was  par- 


230       THE  ^EVENTH  EEGIMENT  I 

ticularly  conspicuous  for  gallantry.  He  now  took 
command  of  the  company,  which  he  held  during 
the  remainder  of  his  term  of  service.  He  was  in 
the  battle  of  Winchester,  where  he  commanded  his 
company  with  great  credit  to  himself.  As  an  of 
ficer,  he  was  very  popular  with  his  command  ;  as  a 
companion,  he  was  sociable  and  benevolent.  He 
was  finally  compelled  to  resign  from  ill-health, 
but  much  against  his  wishes.  He  desired  to  re 
main  until  the  close  of  his  regular  term  of  service,* 
and  then  return  with  his  old  comrades ;  but  his 
increasing  debility  would  not  admit. 

LIEUTENANT   RALPH   LOGKWOOD. 

Lieutenant  Ralph  Lockwood  entered  the  regi 
ment,  on  its  first  organization,  in  Company  E.  He 
served  creditably  through  the  Western  Virginia 
campaign,  taking  part  in  the  skirmish  at  Cross 
Lanes,  and  the  battles  of  Winchester  and  Port 
Republic.  In  these  battles  he  was  distinguished 
for  personal  courage.  By  constant  exposure,  he 
contracted  a  rheumatic  difficulty,  which  finally 
compelled  him  to  resign,  at  a  time  when  his  ser 
vices  were  much  needed  in  the  regiment. 

LIEUTENANT   T.  T.  SWEENEY. 

Lieutenant  T.  T.  Sweeney  entered  the  service  in 
Company  B.  He  saw  much  service  in  Western. 


A    RECORD.  231 

Virginia,  and  was  in  every  respect  a  gallant  officer. 
At  Cross  Lanes,  he  made  an  honorable  record. 
Soon  after  this  skirmish,  he  resigned  his  commis 
sion,  and  returned  to  his  home  in  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

LIEUTENANT   EDWARD    W.  FITCH. 

Lieutenant  Fitch  entered  the  service  in  Company 
I.  He  served  faithfully  until  after  the  skirmish  of 
Cross  Lanes,  in  which  he  bore  a  gallant  part. 
While  at  Charleston,  he  resigned  his  commission, 
and  returned  to  his  home. 

LIEUTENANT  A.  J.  WILLIAMS. 

Lieutenant  Williams  came  into  the  regiment  as 
second-lieutenant  of  Company  D,  which  position  he 
filled  with  much  credit  till  after  the  affair  at  Cross 
Lanes,  when  he  resigned  his  commission.  At  the 
time  the  above  skirmish  took  place  he  wras  sick,  and 
therefore  did  not  take  part  in  it.  Previous  to  this 
he  had  toiled  on  with  his  company,  through  all  its 
terrible  marches  and  dreary  bivouacks  ;  and  for  this 
is  entitled  to  the  gratitude  of  the  country. 


OUR   DEAD. 


COLONEL    WILLIAM    R.     CREIGHTON     AND 
LIEUT.-COLONEL   ORRIN  J.  CRANE. 

Colonel  William  R.  Creighton  was  born  in  Pitts 
burgh,  Pennsylvania,  in  June,  1837.  At  the  age  of 
ten  years,  he  entered  a  shoe-store,  where  he  re 
mained  for  two  years ;  after  which  he  entered  a 
commercial  college,  where  he  remained  for  six 
months.  But  these  pursuits  were  not  to  his  liking 
—he  had  no  taste  for  accounts.  We  next  find  him, 
at  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  in  the  job-office  of  Mc- 
Millin,  in  Pittsburgh,  where  he  remained  for  four 
years,  completing  his  apprenticeship.  The  year 
following,  he  went  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  entered 
the  Herald  office,  where  he  remained  till  the  fall 
of  1860,  with  the  exception  of  one  winter  spent  in 
a  job-office  in  Chicago. 

He  united  with  the  fire  companies  of  both  Pitts 
burgh  and  Cleveland,  and  was  an  active  and  zeal 
ous  member.  In  1858,  he  joined  the  military 
organization  known  as  the  Cleveland  Light  Guards, 


236      THE  SEVENTH  BEGIMENT: 

and  soon  after  became  a  sergeant,  and  a  lieutenant. 
He  advanced  in  rank  without  any  effort — it  was  a 
matter  of  course. 

When  the  rebellion  broke  out,  his  love  of  adven 
ture  would  not  permit  him  to  remain  at  home  ;  but 
he  immediately  set  himself  at  work  organizing  a 
company,  which  was  completed  in  a1  few  days,  and, 
on  the  22d  day  of  April,  marched  to  Camp  Taylor. 
He  immediately  commenced  drilling  his  company, 
and  with  such  success,  that  it  took  the  lead  of  all 
then  in  camp. 

At  this  time  his  military  genius  shone  so  con 
spicuously  that  he  was  looked  on  by  all  as  the 
future  leader  of  the  regiment. 

All  will  remember  with  what  skill  and  pride  he 
led  the  regiment  in  its  first  march.  It  was  on  a 
beautiful  Sabbath  morning ;  and  as  the  young 
soldier,  with  a  proud  step,  took  his  position  at  the 
head  of  the  column,  every  eye  was  turned  upon 
him  in  admiration  ;  one  could  see  in  the  counte 
nances  of  the  men,  a  willingness  to  follow  such  a 
leader  amid  the  hail  and  thunder  of  battle.  Before 
reaching  Camp  Dennison,  this  admiration  warmed 
into  a  determination  to  place  him  in  a  position 
when,  at  no  distant  day,  he  could  be  made  avail 
able  as  the  commander  of  the  regiment.  Therefore, 
on  its  arrival '  at  camp,  he  was  elected  lieutenant- 
colonel,  a  position  which  he  did  not  seek,  nor  in- 


A    KECOBD.  237 

timate  to  any  that  lie  desired.  Yery  many  were 
desirous  of  making  him  colonel. 

During  the  stay  of  the  regiment  at  Camp  Den- 
nison,  he  took  no  active  part,  seldom  being  seen  on 
drill,  or  on  duty  of  any  kind.  "When  the  regiment 
was  about  leaving,  however,  he  took  command, 
Colonel  Tyler  having  gone  to  Virginia  in  advance 
of  the  starting  of  the  regiment.  Previous  to  the 
movement,  every  thing  had  been  arranged  in  per 
fect  order  ;  but  this  arrangement  was  partially  de 
feated  by  the  indecent  haste  of  a  captain.  An 
unutterable  look  of  scorn  and  contempt  settled 
upon  the  features  of  Creighton ;  but  not  a  word 
passed  his  lips.  He  never  entirely  forgave  that 
officer  for  this  act  of  disobedience  of  orders,  till  his 
death,  when  all  feelings  of  animosity  gave  way  to 
regrets  for  his  loss ;  for,  outside  of  a  disposition  to 
criticise  the  conduct  of  his  superiors,  he  was  a  brave 
as  well  as  competent  officer. 

Arriving  at  Clarksburg,  he  turned  over  the  com 
mand  to  Colonel  Tyler  ;  but  on  arriving  at  Glen- 
ville,  he  again  assumed  command,  which  he  held 
until  reaching  Cross  Lanes ;  in  the  mean  time, 
drilling  the  regiment  daily  when  in  camp.  During 
this  time  it  improved  rapidly ;  in  fact,  it  acquired, 
during  this  short  interval,  most  of  the  proficiency 
it  possessed. 

On  the  march  back  to  Cross  Lanes  from  Twenty- 


238       THE  SEVENTH  KEGIMENTI 

mile  Creek,  he  was  with  the  advance,  in  command 
of  the  skirmishers.  During  the  affair  which  suc 
ceeded,  at  the  above  place,  he  bore  himself  cred 
itably.  During  the  retreat,  his  horse  fell  with  him : 
seizing  the  holsters,  he  started  on  foot  through  the 
underbrush,  but  soon  after  saw  his  horse  coming 
after  him  at  full  speed.  He  again  mounted;  but 
in  a  short  time  his  horse  again  fell,  when,  for  the 
second  time,  he  abandoned  him  ;  but  he  was  soon 
joined  by  his  faithful  "  Johnny,"  and  this  time  the 
devoted  horse  carried  its  gallant  rider  safely  to 
Gauley  Bridge. 

This  misfortune  to  the  regiment  completely  un 
manned  him.  Meeting  a  comrade  on  the  retreat, 
who  was  not  in  the  engagement,  he  burst  into 
tears,  and,  grasping  his  hand,  in  choked  utterances 
related  the  story  of  their  encounter. 

While  the  regiment  remained  at  Charleston, 
Creighton  was  in  command,  and  was  untiring  in 
his  efforts  to  advance  his  command  in  both  drill 
and  discipline ;  and  I  doubt  whether  any  regiment 
in  the  field  made  more  rapid  progress  towards 
perfection.  It  seemed  to  emulate  its  leader,  who 
was  ever  at  his  post. 

When  an  order  came  for  five  hundred  picked 
men  from  the  regiment  to  report  to  General  Ben- 
ham  for  duty,  in  the  pursuit  of  Floyd,  he  was 
chosen  to  command  the  detachment.  On  arriving 


A    EECOBD.  239 

at  Benham's  headquarters,  he  was  given  the  ad 
vance,  and,  for  several  days,  was  separated  from 
Floyd's  camp  by  a  range  of  mountains  only.  He 
was  finally  given  a  brigade,  although  only  a  lieu 
tenant-colonel,  and  ordered  across  a  range  of  moun 
tains  to  the  rear  of  the  enemy  ;  but  for  some  reason 
no  attack  was  made,  and  soon  after,  half  of  the 
command  was  ordered  back. 

During  the  pursuit  of  Floyd,  he  travelled  on 
foot  at  the  head  of  his  regiment.  When  the  rebel 
army  was  likely  to  be  overtaken,  Benham  remarked 
to  him,  that  "  he  depended  on  him  to  rout  the  en 
emy,"  and  gave  him  the  post  of  honor ;  but  when 
the  firing  became  rapid,  his  regiment  was  ordered 
to  the  front,  where  a  part  of  it  was  engaged  in 
skirmishing,  while  the  balance  were  smoking  their 
pipes  and  engaging  in  sports,  almost  under  the 
guns  of  the  enemy,  Creighton  enjoying  the  fun 
as  well  as  any  in  the  command. 

The  detachment  returned,  after  fifteen  days'  ab 
sence,  without  the  loss  of  a  man,  save  one  injured 
by  the  accidental  discharge  of  a  gun. 

The  regiment  now  went  to  the  East,  where,  soon 
after,  Tyler  was  gh?en  a  brigade,  and  Creighton 
again  commanded  the  regiment. 

At  the  battle  of  Winchester,  which  followed  soon 
after,  his  was  the  first  regiment  in  the  famous 
charge  of  the  Third  brigade,  for  which  it  acquired 


240       THE  SEVENTH  EEGIMENT I 

such  renown.  He  disagreed  with  the  commanding 
officer  as  to  the  manner  of  making  the  charge,  pre 
ferring  to  deploy  before  advancing,  than  to  charge 
a  battery  in  close  column.  But  throwing  all  per 
sonal  feelings  and  preferences  aside,  he  dashed 
forward,  and  finally  deployed  his  regiment  within 
eighty  yards  of  the  enemy's  line  of  battle,  and 
under  a  terrible  fire  of  both  musketry  and  artillery. 
His  horse  being  shot  from  under  him,  he  seized  a 
musket,  and  engaged  in  the  strife,  firing  rapidly 
till  near  the  close  of  the  battle,  when  he  was  com 
pelled  to  cease  for  the  purpose  of  executing  some 
order. 

On  the  return  of  the  command  to  New  Market, 
after  the  pursuit  of  Jackson  to  near  Harrisonburg, 
the  company  tents  were  ordered  to  be  delivered  up  ; 
whereupon  Creighton  was  very  indignant,  and,  in 
connection  with  other  officers,  sent  in  his  resigna 
tion.  They  were  ordered  to  report  to  General 
Shields  the  next  morning.  Accordingly,  dressed 
in  their  "  best,"  they  reported.  They  were  received 
with  all  the  politeness  that  pompous  general  knew 
how  to  assume,  with  an  invitation  to  be  seated. 
The  genera]  informed  them  that  their  resignations 
would  not  be  accepted  ;  but  remarked,  that,  "  if 
they  desired  it,  he  would  have  their  names  stricken 
from  the  army  rolls  in  disgrace."  This  witticism 
rather  amused  Creighton  than  otherwise,  and  he 


A    EECORD. 

returned  to  camp  with  a  much  better  opinion  of 
the  general  than  he  was  possessed  of  before  making 
his  visit. 

He  now  commanded  the  regiment  in  its  march  to 
Fredericksburg,  sharing  with  his  men  the  hardships 
attending  the  toilsome  march  ;  and  when,  a  few  days 
after,  the  regiment  returned  to  the  Valley,  he  did 
much  to  cheer  the  men  in  that  discouraging  march. 

At  Front  Royal  he  remained  with  his  regiment 
during  a  heavy  storm,  to  which  it  was  exposed 
without  tents,  disdaining  to  seek  shelter  and  com 
fort  while  his  men  were  thus  exposed. 

The  men  were  now  very  destitute  of  clothing, 
especially  shoes ;  but  when  ordered,  he  moved  to 
Columbia  Bridge,  followed  by  one  hundred  men 
barefooted.  He  now  went  personally  to  General 
Shields,  but  was  coldly  received  by  that  general, 
being  subjected  to  insulting  remarks.  He  came 
back  to  his  regiment  with  that  same  unutterable 
expression  of  contempt  stamped  upon  his  features, 
which  all  will  remember  who  served  with  him  in 
the  field  ;  and  getting  his  men  in  column,  closed  in 
mass,  made  a  speech.  Said  he:  "I  am  unable  to 
procure  shoes  or  other  comforts  for  you  ;  but  I  will 
follow  these  generals  until  there  is  not  a  man  left  in 
the  regiment.  Forward,  company  II  I1'  And  he 
did  follow  them  to  Port  Republic,  where  his  words 
came  near  proving  true. 

11 


212      THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 

At  tliis  battle  his  bravery  and  daring  were  ob 
served  by  every  one.  He  made  repeated  charges 
with  his  regiment,  the  line  being  as  correct  as  on 
dress-parade.  After  one  of  these  charges,  the 
enemy's  cavalry  came  dashing  towards  his  regi 
ment,  and  dispositions  were  immediately  made 
for  forming  a  square;  but  the  enemy  wisely  wheel 
ed,  and  charged  another  regiment.  The  colonel  of 
this  regiment,  being  unable  to  get  his  men  in  posi 
tion,  shouted  in  a  stentorian  voice  :  u  Men  of  the 

th,  look  at  the  Seventh  Ohio ;  and  d — n  you, 

weep  !" 

In  this  battle  the  regiment  made  five  charges, 
under  the  leadership  of  Creighton ;  and  each  time 
driving  the  enemy. 

After  the  battle  was  over,  and  the  regiment  on 
the  retreat,  seeing  a  wounded  captain  lying  almost 
within  the  enemy's  lines,  he  rode  up  to  his  com 
pany,  and  pointing  to  where  he  was  lying,  said  : 
"  Do  you  see  your  captain  over  yonder  ?  Now^  go 
for  him!"  They  did  go  for  him,  and  succeeded  in 
bringing  him  from  the  field  in  safety. 

Only  a  few  were  missing  from  the  regiment  in 
this  action,  although  the  list  of  killed  and  wounded 
WHS  fearful. 

We  next  find  Creighton  at  the  battle  of  Cedar 
Mountain,  where  a  small  division  fought  the  whole 
oi'  Jackson's  army  on  ground  of  his  own  choosing. 


A    EECORD.  243 

Oreighton  handled  his  regiment  with' a  dexterity 
that  told  fearfully  on  the  ranks  of  the  enemy.  He 
was  finally  severely  wounded,  and  compelled  to 
leave  the  field.  In  doing  so,  he  kept  his  face  to  the 
foe,  saving;  that  "  no  rebel  ever  saw  his  back  in 

«/  O 

battle  ;  and  never  would."  He  was  taken  to  Wash 
ington,  where  the  bullet  was  extracted  from  his 

o  ? 

side,  which  wras  an  exceedingly  painful  operation. 
Soon  after  this  he  came  to  his  home ;  but  while 
still  carrying  his  arm  in  a  sling,  he  reported  to  his 
regiment. 

While  at  home  the  battle  of  Antietam  was 
fought,  which  wras  the  only  one  in  which  he  failed 
to  participate.  Soon  after  his  return,  the  affair  at 
Dumfries  occurred,  where,  through  his  ingenuity 
and  skill,  Hampton's  cavalry  command  was  de 
feated  by  a  mere  handful  of  men.  For  this  he  wras 
publicly  thanked  by  Generals  Slocum  and  Geary. 

He  now  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Chancellors- 
ville,  where  he  won  new  laurels.  It  is  said  that 
being  ordered  by  General  Hooker  to  fall  back,  he 
refused  to  do  so  until  able  to  bring  Knapp's  Bat 
tery  safely  to  the  rear;  for  which  disobedience  of 
orders  he  was  recommended  for  promotion.  This 
battery  was  from  his  native  city,  and  in  it  he  had 
many  friends. 

Next  he  was  at  Gettysburg,  where  he  fought  with 
his  accustomed  valor. 


244       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 

We  now  find  him  at  Lookout  Mountain  and  Mis 
sion  Ridge,  in  "  Hooker's  battle  above  the  clouds," 
where  the  victory  was  so  suddenly  and  unexpectedly 
won,  that  scarcely  sufficient  time  intervened  in 
which  to  display  valor.  It  was  simply  a  race  for 
the  top  of  the  mountain  on  the  part  of  our  men ; 
and  a  corresponding  race  on  the  part  of  the 
rebels  for  the  foot  of  the  mountain  on  the  oppo 
site  side. 

After  this  battle  came  the  pursuit  of  Bragg. 
His  rear-guard  was  overtaken  at  Ringgold,  Geor 
gia,  where  it  was  securely  posted  on  the  top  of 
Taylor's  Ridge — a  naked  eminence.  It  was  mad 
ness  to  undertake  to  drive  them  from  this  hill, 
without  the  use  of  artillery  to  cover  the  assault ; 
but  in  the  excitement  of  the  moment  the  order 
was  given.  In  this  assault  Creighton  commanded 
a  brigade.  Forming  his  command,  he  made  a 
speech.  "  Boys,"  said  he,  "  we  are  ordered  to 
take  that  hill.  I  want  to  see  you  walk  right  up 
it."  After  this  characteristic  speech,  he  led  his 
men  up  the  hill.  It  soon  became  impossible  to 
advance  against  the  terrible  fire  by  which  they 
were  met ;  he,  therefore,  led  them  into  a  ravine, 
but  tiie  rebels  poured  such  a  fire  into  it  from  all 
sides,  that  the  command  was  driven  back.  Reach 
ing  a  fence,  Creighton  stopped,  and  facing  the  foe, 
waited  for  his  command  to  reach  the  opposite  side. 


A    RECORD.  245 

While  in  this  position  he  fell,  pierced  through  the 
body  with  a  rifle  bullet.  His  last  words  were : 
"Oh.  my  dear  wife!"  and  he  expired  almost  imme 
diately.  The  brigade  now  fell  rapidly  back,  carry 
ing  the  remains  of  its  idolized  commander  with  it. 


Lieutenant-Colonel  Orrin  J.  Crane  was  born  in 
Troy,  IsTew  York,  in  the  year  1829.  At  three  years 
of  age  his  parents  moved  to  their  native  State, 
Vermont.  Soon  after,  his  father  died,  leaving  but 
limited  means  for  the  support  and  education  of  his 
children.  His  mother  was  a  Christian  woman, 
and  devoted  to  her  children.  From  her  he  re 
ceived  his  first  lessons  of  life;  and  a  worthy 
teacher  he  had.  He  cherished  his  mother  with 
the  utmost  affection,  dwelling  upon  her  goodness 
with  almost  child-like  simplicity.  It  was  touching 
to  listen  to  the  words  of  love  and  confidence  fall 
ing  for  her,  from  the  lips  of  the  sturdy  warrior, 
who  braved  the  battle-fire  without  a  tremor. 

In  early  youth  he  went  to  live  with  an  uncle, 
and  in  about  1852  came  with  him  to  Conneaut, 
Ohio,  where  he  employed  himself  in  mechanical 
labor.  He  spent  one  year  on  the  Isthmus,  and 
after  his  return  went  to  Cleveland,  where  he  en 
gaged  in  the  occupation  of  a  ship-carpenter,  fol 
lowing  this  trade  till  the  fall  of  •  Sumter.  While 


246  THE    SEVENTH    EEGIMENTI 

in  Cleveland  he  associated  himself  with  a  military 
organization. 

He  entered  the  service  as  first-lieutenant  in  Cap 
tain  Creighton's  company ;  and  on  his  promotion, 
was  made  captain.  He  early  devoted  himself  to 
the  instruction  of  his  company ;  and  it  can  be 
said  that  it  lost  nothing  of  the  efficiency  it  ac 
quired  under  the  leadership  of  Creighton. 

After  the  regiment  entered  the  field,  his  services 
were  invaluable.  I  doubt  if  the  entire  army  con 
tains  an  officer  who  has  performed  more  service,  in 
the  same  length  of  time,  than  Crane.  If  a  bridge 
was  to  be  constructed,  or  a  road  repaired,  he  was 
sent  for  to  superintend  it.  If  the  commissary  de 
partment  became  reduced,  he  was  the  one  to  pro 
cure  supplies.  No  undertaking  was  too  arduous 
for  his  iron-will  to  brave.  There  was  no  fear  of 
starvation  while  the  sturdy  Crane  was  present. 
All  relied  on  him  with  the  utmost  confidence, 
and  no  one  was  ever  disappointed  in  him. 

At  the  affair  of  Cross  Lanes,  where  he  first  came 
under  fire,  he  was  more  than  a  hero  ;  he  seemed 
possessed  of  attributes  of  a  higher  nature.  He 
moved  amid  that  sheet  of  flame,  as  if  possessed  of  a 
soul  in  communion  with  a  higher  power.  lie  in 
spired  his  men  with  true  courage.  They  stood  like  a 
wall,  and  fell  back  only  when  ordered  by  their 
leader,  then  dashed  through  the  strong  line  of  the 


A    RECOKD.  247 

enemy  with  a  bravery  which  was  truly  sublime. 
The  enemy,  although  five  to  one,  hesitated,  swayed 
backward,  and  finally  fled,  so  severely  punished, 
that  for  the  time  they  did  not  pursue.  In  that  long 
inarch,  over  the  mountains  to  Gauley  Bridge,  he 
was  still  the  proud  leader. 

After  his  arrival  at  the  above  place,  he  was  sent 
out  to  the  front,  up  Xew  River,  where  he  rendered 
valuable  service. 

lie  was  in  every  march  and  skirmish  in  both 
"Western  and  Eastern  Virginia,  until  we  find  the 
regiment  at  the  battle  of  Winchester.  In  this 

O 

engagement  he  showed  the  same  indomitable  and 

O      O 

true  courage.     He  held    his   men    to   the  work  of 

O 

carnage  so  fearfully,  that  the  enemy's  slain  almost 
equalled  his  command. 

We  now  find  him  in  every  battle  in  which  his 
regiment  was  engaged  in  the  East.  Port  Republic, 
Cedar  Mountain  (where  he  was  slightly  wounded), 
Antietam,  Dumfries,  Chancellorsville,  arid  Gettys 
burg.  In  all  of  these  he  led  his  command,  and  the 
dead  of  the  enemy  left  on  the  field  before  it  attest 
how  well  he  led  it. 

At  the  battle  of  Antietam,  he  commanded  the 
regiment,  and  during  the  latter  part  of  the  engage 
ment,  a  brigade. 

Before  the  regiment  left  for  the  West,  he  was 
made  lieutenant-colonel ;  a  position  which  his  ability 


248  THE    SEVENTH    KEGIMENT: 

and  long,  as  well  as  faithful,  service  of  his  country 
rendered  him  eminently  qualified  to  fill. 

Arriving  in  the  West,  he  commanded  the  regi 
ment  in  the  battles  of  Lookout  Mountain  and  Mis 
sion  Ridge,  where  he  added  new  laurels  to  Ins 
already  imperishable  name.  At  fatal  Ringgold,  he 
again  commanded  the  regiment.  He  led  it  up  the 
steep  ascent,  where  the  whistling  of  bullets  made 
the  air  musical  :  and  where  men  dropped  so  quietly 
that  they  were  scarcely  missed,  except  in  tlie 
thinned  ranks  of  the  command.  The  regiment  had 
not  recovered  from  the  shock  produced  by  the 
announcement  of  the  death  of  Creighton,  when  the 
noble  Crane,  on  whom  all  hearts  were  centred  in 
the  fearful  peril  of  that  hour,  fell  at  the  feet  of  his 
devoted  comrades,  pierced  through  the  forehead  by 
a  rifle  bullet.  He  spoke  not  a  word — his  strong 
heart  ceased  to  beat ;  and  his  soul  took  its  flight 
from  its  blood-red  tenement,  and  from  the  confusion 
of  battle,  to  the  land  of  patriot  spirits.  He  fell  so 
far  in  the  advance,  that  his  men  were  driven  back 
before  possessing  themselves  of  his  body, — but  soon 
after  it  was  recovered. 

The  sketches  of  Creighton  and  Crane  now  lie  in 
the  same  path. 

After  the  bodies  of  the  fallen  braves  had  been 
laid  side  by  side,  the  remaining  few  of  a  once  full 


A    BE  CO  ED.  249 

«5- 

regiment  gathered  around  and  mourned, — the  silence 
alone  being  broken  by  the  tears  and  sobs  of  a  band 
of  warriors,  grieving  for  the  loss  of  their  chieftains. 
Yfas  such  a  scene  ever  witnessed?  Those  forms, 
now  cold  and  bloody,  had  often  led  them  on  the 
Held  of  carnage,  to  victory  and  glory  ;  under  their 
leadership  the  regiment  had  been  made  immortal  ; 
and  now,  in  all  their  pride,  and  glory,  and  chivalry, 
they  had  gone  down  to  rise  no  more.  No  wonder, 
then,  that  their  brave  followers  paid  their  last 
tribute  to  all  that  was  mortal  of  their  renowned 
leaders.  It  seemed  to  these  mourners,  in  their  loss 
the  regiment  itself  was  blotted  out — that  it  would 
no  more  be  known  and  honored — that  its  siin  had 
forever  set.  But  no,  many  a  brave  heart,  that 
stood  in  that  circle,  was  to  be  made  a  sacrifice  to 
his  country;  many  more  heapts  were  to  be  left 
crushed  and  bleeding  for  the  loved  ones  fallen  in 
battle.  "When  the  last  tear  had  been  shed,  and  the 
last  vow  made  over  these  fallen  braves,  the  regi 
ment  moved  away  in  profound  silence. 

While  this  scene  was  being  enacted  afar  off 
among  the  hills  of  Georgia,  the  peaceful  valleys  of 
Ohio  were  echoing  with  the  lamentations  of  friends 
at  home.  The  hearts  of  the  people  of  the  Western 
Preserve  were  bound  by  the  strong  ties  of  kin  and 

v  O 

friendship  to  this  gallant  regiment,  which  had  but 

just  made  its  great  sacrifice,  and   they  were  all  in 
11* 


250      THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 

4 

mourning.  "When  the  news  came  of  this  great 
disaster,  it  could  not  be  believed  ;  the  friends  of  the 
fallen  would  not  give  them  up.  And  it  was  not 
until  a  dispatch  was  received  that  their  bodies  were 
on  the  way  home,  that  it  was  generally  believed. 
At  last,  when  the  people  realized  that  the  sad  news 
was  indeed  true,  meetings  were  called  by  the  rep 
resentatives  of  all  branches  of  trade  and  industry. 
.Resolutions  of  respect  were  passed,  and  preparations 
made  to  receive  the  dead,  on  their  arrival,  in  a* 
becoming  manner. 

When  General  Hooker  learned  of  the  death  of 
Creighton  and  Crane,  he  raised  both  hands,  in  sur 
prise  and  grief,  exclaiming,  "  My  God  !  are  they 
dead  ?  Two  braver  men  never  lived  !" 

General  Butterfield,  chief  of  staff,  gave  orders  to 
remove  the  bodies  t^the  rear.  They  were  conveyed 
to  Chattanooga  by  Sergeant  Tisdell,  where  they 
were  met  by  Quartermaster  Loomis,  and  privates 
Wetzel,  Shepherd,  and  Meigs.  General  Slocum 
testified  his  appreciation  of  their  worth,  by  accom 
panying  their  bodies  as  far  as  Tullahoma.  When 
the  news  reached  him  of  their  death,  his  grief  was 
so  profound,  that  the  stern  veteran  burst  into  tears. 

They  were  taken  to  Nashville  to  be  embalmed. 
But  little,  however,  could  be  done  for  Creighton,  as 
he  had  bled  inwardly  ;  his  body  was  therefore  put 
into  a  metallic  case.  Crane's  body  w^as  embalmed, 


A    RECORD.  251 

and  placed  in  a  plain,  but  neat  coffin,  till  it  should 
arrive  in  Cleveland  and  be  transferred  to  a  burial 
case.  Dr.  Newbury,  of  the  Sanitary  Commission, 
rendered  much  service  in  this  work,  after  which  he 
accompanied  the  remains  to  Louisville.  From  this 
place  they  were  forwarded  to  Cincinnati  by  train, 
where  they  were  met  by  the  special  escort  from 
Cleveland,  consisting  of  Colonel  Hay  ward,  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  J.  T.  Sterling,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Frazee,  Captain  Baird,  Captain  Molyneaux,  Captain 
De  Forest,  Captain  Wiseman,  Surgeon  Gushing, 
and  Quartermaster  Chapin. 

On  Sunday  morning  the  train  dashed  into  Cleve 
land,  and  stopped  at  the  foot  of  Superior-street. 
Two  hearses  were  in  waiting.  One  for  Colonel 
Creighton,  drawn  by  four  white  horses ;  the  other 
for  Lieutenant-Colonel  Crane,  drawn  by  four  black 
horses.  Each  was  draped  by  American  flags  and 
the  usual  insignia  of  mourning. 

The  remains  of  Colonel  Creighton  were  now  re 
moved  from  the  car  to  the  hearse,  and  conveyed  to 
the  residence  of  Mrs.  Creighton,  on  Bolivar-street. 
The  remains  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Crane  remained 
under  guard,  till  the  return  of  the  escort,  when 
they  were  taken  to  the  residence  of  the  widow. 

This  bright  Sabbath  will  long  be  remembered. 
But  a  few  short  Sabbaths  before,  the  coffined  dead 
left  the  city  of  their  homes,  possessed  of  life  and 


252       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 

hope  :  looking  forward  with  pride  and  happiness 
to  the  termination  of  an  honorable  career  in  the 
service  of  their  eountiy.  And  often  in  their  night 
vigils,  over  the  dying  embers  of  their  picket-fires, 
had  they  conversed  on  the  subject,  passing  the  long 
night  in  dreams  never  to  be  realized.  The  remain 
ing  few  of  your  followers  have,  indeed,  long  since 
returned ;  and  although  the  hearts  and  feet  of  these 
brave  warriors  were  heavy  with  the  tramp  of  weary 
months,  yet  your  slumber  was  not  disturbed.  Long 
years  shall  roll  away,  in  which  war's  tumult  and 
carnage  shall  cease;  but  you  shall  only  be  known 
among  men  by  your  good  deeds  left  behind,  and 
perpetuated  in  the  hearts  of  your  countrymen. 

On  the  Tth  of  December  the  bodies  of  Creighton 
and  Crane  were,  brought  from  the  residences  of 
their  families  and  taken  to  the  Council  Hall,  for 
the  purpose  of  lying  in  state,  to  be  seen  by  the 
public.  The  same  hearses  were  used  as  on  the 
arrival  of  the  bodies  from  the  South. 

The  Council  Hall  was  elegantly  and  appropriately 
decorated.  In  the  centre,  within  the  railing,  a 
handsome  canopy  had  been  placed,  with  roof  of 
national  flags,  draped  with  mourning  emblems, 
suspended  from  the  ceiling,  and  trailing  at  the 
corners  to  the  ground.  Wreaths,  loops,  and  fes 
toons  of  black  and  white  edged  the  canopy.  On 
the  inside,  from  the  centre,  hung  a  large  pendant 


A     K  E  C  0  R  D  .  253 

of  mourning  emblems,  beneath  which  was  the  bier 
on  which  lay  the  bodies  of  the  gallant  dead. 

On  the  president's  desk,  at  the  head  of  the  hall, 
were  portraits  of  Colonel  Creighton  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Crane,  draped  in  mourning ;  and  against 
the  wall,  behind  the  place  of  the  president's  seat, 
was  a  life-size  portrait  of  Colonel  Creighton,  also 
draped  in  mourning.  Above  this  portrait  was  this 
inscription,  in  black  letters  on  white  ground  : 

"  My  God  !  are  they  dead  ? 
Two  braver  men  never  lived  !" 

— GENERAL  HOOKER. 

The  windows  were  hung  with  black,  and  the  gas 
lights  threw  a  dim,  solemn  light  over  the  mournful 
scene. 

The  bodies  were  placed  in  handsome  burial- 
cases,  and  the  covers  removed,  so  that  they  could 
be  seen  through  the  glass  fronts.  As  we  have 
before  mentioned,  the  body  of  Colonel  Creighton, 
from  the  wounds  having  bled  inwardly,  was  so  much 
changed,  previously  to  reaching  Nashville,  that  it 
was  impossible  to  properly  embalm  it ;  and  there 
fore  did  not  present  a  natural  appearance.  That  of 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Crane  was  in  good  preservation, 
and  could  easily  be  recognized. 

The  bodies  were  guarded  by  a  detachment  of 
in  embers  of  the  old  Seventh,  who  formed  the  guard 
oi'  honor. 


254:  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

The  following  account  of  the  funeral  services  is 
from  the  Cleveland  Herald  of  the  9th  of  Decem 
ber. 

"  The  sad  pageant  is  over.  A  sorrowing  people 
have  paid  their  tribute  of  affection  and  regret  over 
the  remains  of  the  dead  heroes.  The  brave  leaders 
of  the  glorious  bat  ill-fated  Seventh  sleep  in  their 
quiet  tomb. 

"  Tuesday,  the  8th,  was  a  bright  and  beautiful 
day.  Its  clear  sky  and  pleasant  atmosphere  were 
strangely  similar  to  that  bright  Sunday  in  May, 
two  years  and  a  half  ago,  when  the  Seventh  Regi 
ment  marched  out  of  Cleveland  on  its  way  to  the 
battle-fields  where  it  was  destined  to  win  such 
renown.  The  unclouded  sun  shed  a  halo  of  glory 
on  all  that  was  left  of  the  brave  men  who  led  the 
old  Seventh  in  many  a  fight ;  but  who  now  were  to 
be  laid  away  in  the  silent  and  peaceful  tomb. 

"  The  bright  day  opened  on  a  city  of  mourners. 
People  gathered  on  the  streets,  waiting  for  the  hour 
for  the  funeral.  Business  was  unthought  of,  even 
the  latest  news  by  telegraph,  exciting  as  it  was,  and 
calculated  to  stir  the  pulse  with  triumphant  joy, 
failed  to  engross  the  attention.  Men  spoke  of  the 
dead  heroes,  of  their  first  departure  for  the  war,  of 
their  terrible  battles  and  bloody  sacrifices  ;  and  of 
that  last  fearful  struggle  on  the  hill  at  Einggold, 
where  the  gallant  leaders  laid  down  their  lives  for 


A    RECORD.  255 

their  country,  amid  their  dead  and  wounded  com 
rades. 

"  From  ever)7  flag-staff  the  national  colors  hung 
at  half-mast,  and  signs  of  mourning  were  every- 
where  visible.  As  the  hour  set  for  the  commence 
ment  of  the  solemn  exercises  drew  near,  business 
was  entirely  suspended  throughout  the  city.  The 
stores  were  closed,  the  Federal,  State,  and  city 
offices  shut  their  doors,  and  a  Sabbath-like  stillness 
reigned  over  the  city.  Soon  came  the  tramp  of 
armed  men,  the  mournful  wail  of  bugles,  and  the 
funeral  roll  of  the  drums,  as  the  troops  moved  up 
to  take  part  in  the  funeral  procession. 

"The  bodies  had  remained  in  the  Council  Hall 
over-night,  guarded  by  the  old  comrades  of  the 
gallant  dead.  The  families  and  relatives  were  in 
the  mayor's  office,  waiting  for  the  hour  of  moving 
the  procession.  At  half  past  ten  o'clock  the  bodies 
were  removed  from  the  Council  Hall  and  placed  in 
hearses  which  were  draped  with  the  national  colors, 
looped  up  with  mourning  emblems. 

"  The  pall-bearers  were  as  follows  :  For  Colonel 
Creighton — Colonel  Senter,  Colonel  Whittlesey, 
Major  Mygatt,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Asper,  Major 
Seymour,  Captain  Mcllrath,  Captain  Ransom,  Cap 
tain  Stratton.  For  Lieutenant-Colonel  Crane — 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Goddard,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Sterling,  Major  Palmer,  Captain  Drummond,  Cap- 


256  THE    SEVENTH     REGIMENT  I 

tain  Douglass,  Captain  Wilson,  Captain    Standard, 
Captain  Hill. 

"The  burial-cases  were  the  best  that  money  could 
buy.  On  one  was  the  following  inscription  : 

COL.  W.  R.  CREIGHTON, 

7tli  0.  V.  I, 
In  his  27tli  year. 
Killed  at  the  Battle  of  Ringgold, 
Nosr.  27th,  1863. 

"  On  the  other  was  the  inscription  : 

LiEur.-CoL.  O.  J.  CRANE, 

Fell  at  the  Battle  of  Binggold, 

Nov.  27th,  18G3. 

"  On  each  coffin  was  laid  a  handsome  wreath  of 
immortelles,  with  the  sword  of  the  dead  officer. 

"The  Twenty-ninth  Volunteer  Militia  were  drawn 
up  in  line  each  side  of  the  way  between  the  Coun 
cil  Hall  and  the  Stone  Church,  and  the  mournful 
cortege  passed  through  the  lane  so  formed,  Leland's 
Band  playing  a  dirge.  The  hearse  was  followed 
by  the  mourners  in  carriages — Governor  Brough, 
Surgeon  McClurg,  of  the  United  States  Military 
Hospital,  the  City  Council,  and  City  and  County 
Officers,  all  wearing  crape  badges. 

"Thousands  of  people  lined  the  way,  and  crowded 
around  the  church  with  the  hope  of  getting  in;  but 
there  was  not  a  sound  from  them,  as  the  procession 


A     E  E  C  0  E  D  .  257 

passed  on  to  the  church.  And  such  perfect  order 
and  decorum  we  never  before  saw  in  such  a  vast 
concourse. 

IN     THE     CHURCH. 

"  At  the  church — as  indeed  throughout  the  whole 
of  the  obsequies — the  most  perfect  arrangements 
had  been  made,  and  were  carried  out.  The  read 
ing-desk  was  draped  with  flags  and  crape.  Directly 
in  front  was  a  stand  with  an  elegant  bouquet  of 
flowers,  and  below  tin's  another  stand,  draped  with 
national  colors,  on  which  rested  the  two  coffins, 
side  by  side. 

"  The  silk  banner  of  the  Seventh,  presented  by  the 
city  after  Cross  Lanes,  and  bearing  the  names  of 
several  battles,  was  displayed  against  the  reading- 
desk.  It  was  pierced  and  rent  by  showers  of  bul 
lets  and  shell  in  many  a  hard-fought  battle. 

"The  families  and  relatives  of  the  deceased  were 
placed  in  the  seats  immediately  in  front  of  the 
bodies.  On  either  side  of  the  coffins  sat  the  pall 
bearers.  Directly  behind  the  mourners  sat  about 
a  dozen  or  more  of  the  members  of  the  old  Cleve 
land  Light  Guard,  the  company  commanded  by 
Colonel  Creighton  before  the  war,  and  of  which 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Crane  was  a  member.  They 
wore  crape  badges,  and  had  with  them  the  com 
pany  flag,  draped  in  mourning. 


258       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT  : 

"  Near  the  reading-desk  were  seated  Governor 
Brough,  Surgeon  McClurg,  and  other  invited 
guests,  the  committees,  city  council,  city  officers, 
county  officers,  the  clergy  of  the  city  and  neighbor 
hood,  members  of  the  old  Seventh,  members  of  the 
old  Cleveland  Light  Guard,  soldiers  from  the  Mili 
tary  Hospital,  members  of  the  Typographical  Union, 
ship-carpenters,  and  other  friends  of  the  deceased. 
The  body  of  the  church  was  packed  tightly  with 
citizens,  of  whom  the  greater  part  were  ladies, 
preference  being  given  to  them  in  the  selection  of 
seats.  The  Twenty-ninth  Regiment  stood  in  the 
aisles. 

"  During  the  entry  of  the  procession  to  the  church, 
the  organ  played  a  voluntary  suitable  to  the  occa 
sion.  At  half-past  eleven  o'clock  the  funeral  cere 
monies  in  the  church  commenced  with  an  invoca 
tion  of  the  Divine  blessing  by  Rev.  S.  "W.  Adams, 
of  the  First  Baptist  Church,  who  Afterwards  read 
appropriate  passages  of  Scripture. 

"The  choir  then  sang  the  Ninetieth  Psalm : 

"  '  0  God !  our  help  in  ages  past, 

Our  help  in  years  to  come ; 
Our  shelter  from  the  stormy  blast, 
And  our  eternal  home  ; 

" '  Beneath  the  shadow  of  Thy  throne, 

Thy  saints  have  dwelt  secure  ; 
Sufficient  is  Thine  arm  alone, 
And  our  defence  is  sure. 


A    RECORD.  259 

" '  Before  the  hills  in  order  stood, 
Or  earth  received  her  name, 
From  everlasting  Thou  art  God — 
To  endless  years  the  same. 

" '  Thy  word  commands  our  flesh  to  dust : 

Return  ye  sons  of  men ! 
All  nations  rose  from  earth  at  first, 
And  turn  to  earth  again. 

"  '  O  God !  our  help  in  ages  past, 
Our  help  for  years  to  come : 
Be  Thou  our  guide  while  troubles  last, 
And  our  eternal  home.' 

"Rev.  Adam  Crooks,  of  the  Wesleyan  Metho 
dist  Church,  then  made  the  following  address,  at 
the  request  of  the  family  of  the  late  Colonel 
Creighton  : 

"  *  To-day  we  are  in  the  solemn  presence  of  inex 
orable  death.  We  are  impressedly  reminded  that 
dust  we  are,  and  unto  dust  we  must  return  ;  that 
"  death  is  the  mighty  leveller  of  us  all ;"  that  "the 
tall,  the  wise,  the  heroic  dead  must  lie  as  low  as 


"  '  Their  swords  in  rust  ; 

Their  souls  with  God  in  heaven,  we  trust.' 

We  would  do  well  to  pray  with  the  hero  of  other 
days :  "  So  teach  us  to  number  our  days,  that  we 
may  apply  our  hearts  unto  wisdom."  Before  us 
are  two  more  rich  offerings  which  the  State  of  Ohio 
and  Cleveland  have  laid  upon  our  country's  altar  ! 


260       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 

They  were  preceded  by  "Wheeler,  Lantry,  Pickands, 
Mali  an,  Yail,  and  others.  We  are  here  to  mourn, 
to  honor,  and  to  bury  the  noble  dead  !  They  were 
the  pride  of  our  city  and  of  Northern  Ohio.  Brave 
and  honored  representatives  of  a  brave  and  honored 
constituency  !  Of  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
soldiers  who  have  filled  the  ranks  of  the  Seventh 
Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  but  little  over 
a  hundred  now  report  for  duty.  Many  of  them 
sleep  in  patriots'  and  heroes1  graves.  Most  of  the 
remainder  bear  on  their  persons  honorable  marks 
of  their  patriotism  and  bravery.  In  honoring  the 
representative,  wre  honor  the  constituency. 

"  '  But  general  remarks  are  not  appropriate  from 
me.  At  the  request  of  the  stricken  widow  and 
relatives  of  Colonel  Creighton,  I  come  to  utter  a 
few  words  of  condolence,  sympathy,  and  comfort, 
in  this  hour,  to  them  and  to  us  all,  of  deep  affliction. 
Brother  Foot  will  speak  in  behalf  of  the  relatives 
of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Crane. 

"  '  Colonel  William  R.  Creighton  was  born  in  the 
the  City  of  Pittsburgh,- in  the  year  1836  or  1837— 
the  records  are  not  in  this  city.  In  early  childhood 
he  was  bereft  of  a  father.  lie  was  baptized  by  the 
Rev.  Bishop  Uphold,  now  bishop  of  Indiana,  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 

"  '  In  his  early  teens,  he  served  in  the  employ  of 
Mr.  A ,  in  an  extensive  shoe  establishment. 


A    EECOED.  261 

Subsequently,  lie  chose  the  occupation  of  a  printer, 
and  spent  three  years  in  making  himself  master  of 
his  trade.  Eight  years  ago  he  came  to  this  city — 
was  four  years  in  the  office  of  the  Cleveland  Herald. 
Also  some  six  months  in  the  City  of  Chicago.  At 
the  time  of  enlistment,  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
Mr.  Nevans  of  this  city.  Early  in  life,  he  gave 
evidence  that  the  tendencies  of  his  nature  were 
strongly  military. 

"  '  This  was  evinced  by  his  connection  with  com 
panies  for  drill  in  Pittsburgh,  Chicago,  a'nd  this 
city.  When  the  bloody  drama  of  this  dreadful  war 
was  inaugurated,  he  was  lieutenant  of  the  '  Cleve 
land  Light  Guard.'  He  was  not  willing  that  the 
fair  and  majestic  superstructure,  reared  by  the 
superior  skill,  patient  labor,  and  heroic  suffering  of 
our  honored  fathers — resting  its  deep  foundations 
in  the  inalienability  of  the  natural  rights  of  all  men, 
and  in  which  the  most  indigent  son  of  toil  stands 
before  the  law  the  equal  peer  of  merchant  princes — 
should  be  torn  down  by  perjured  trailers  and  sworn 
enemies  of  mankind  ;  not  willing  that  these  traitors 
and  enemies  should  bury  beneath  the  magnificent 
ruins  of  this  superstructure  our  strength,  and  great 
ness,  and  safety,  and  peace,  and  very  liberties  ;  not 
willing  that  this  young,  yet  powerful  republic, 
should  be  so  dismembered  and  disintegrated  as  to 
tempt  the  rapacity,  and  be  an  easy  prey  of  the 


2G2       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT : 

weakest  of  adverse  powers  ;  not  willing  that  the 
principle,  that  '  Capital  shall  own  lalorj  the  non- 
capitalled  be  the  chattel  of  the  rich,  should  rule  all 
over  this  continent — that  labor  should  be  at  once* 
unremtinerative  and  the  badge  of  infamy,  that  thus 
there  should  be  eternal  antagonism  between  the 
indigent  and  the  affluent,  developing  in  intestine 
broils  and  civil  feuds, — nor  that  the  sun  of  liberty 
should  go  down  upon  an  entire  hemisphere,  to  ris^e 
not  again  for  many  generations  ;  not  willing  that 
the  forum,  pulpit,  and  press  should  all  be  enslaved, 
and  intelligence  among  the  masses  be  rendered  con 
traband  ;  in  brief,  not  willing  that  our  Paradise 
should  be  converted  into  a  Pandemonium. 

"  '  Hence,  no  sooner  had  the  news  reached  us  of 
the  assault  upon  Fort  Sumter,  and  the  call  of  the 
President  for  seventy-five  thousand  volunteers  to 
rush  to  the  defence  of  the  life  of  the  republic,  than, 
with  all  the  ardor  of  his  earnest  nature,  Colonel 
William  R.  Creighton  threw  his  all  upon  his 
country's  altar,  and  appealed  to  his  associates  and 
compeers  to  do  likewise. 

"'His  success  in  securing  enlistments  was  com 
mensurate  with  his  zeal  and  known  military  skill. 
In  a  few  days  he  was  captain  of  a  full  company — 
the  first  enlisted  in  this  city — which  afterwards 
became  Company  A  of  the  immortal  Seventh 
Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  On  the 


A     E  E  C  0  R  D  .  263 

morning  of  the  3d  of  May,  1861,  a  beautiful  Sabbath 
morning  in  the  spring,  emblem  of  life,  youth,  and 
beauty,  this  regiment  started  for  the  field  of  con 
flict,  glory,  and  of  death.  And  now,  on  a  clear, 
serene  Sabbath  of  the  December  of  1863,  the  dying 
month  of  the  year,  the  first  Sabbath  of  the  month, 
and  in  the  morning,  after  many  hard-fought  battles, 
the  brave  colonel  and  lieutenant- colonel  of  the 
gallant  Seventh  came  back  to  say  to  us,  in  the 
mute  silence  of  death,  '  We  have  done  what  we 
could.'  In  terms  and  strains  of  true  eloquence 
you  will  soon  be  told  by  Brother  Peck,  how  bravely 
the  colonel  led  the  charges  at  Cross  Lanes,  Win 
chester,  Port  Kepublic,  Cedar  Mountain  (not  at 
Antietam,  for  he  was  at  home  wounded),  Dumfries, 
Chancellors ville,  Gettysburg,  Lookout  Mountain, 
and  fatal  Binggold, — and  how  he  loved  his  brave 
command,  and  how  they  idolized  him.  But  I  will 
not  anticipate,  nor  need  I  attempt  encomium.  His 
deeds  praise  him  beyond  the  capacity  of  all  human 
eloquence. 

"  '  Of  his  social  and  manly  qualities,  one  who 
knew  him  well  is  permitted  to  speak,  in  a  letter 
of  Christian  sympathy,  addressed  to  his  widow — for 
the  2d  of  May,  1861,  three  days  before  leaving  with 
his  command,  he  was  united  in  wedlock  with 
Eleanor  L.  Quirk,  of  this  city.  In  a  letter,  such  as 
described  above,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brown,  former  pastor 


264        THE  SEVENTH  EEGIMENT : 

of  •  Westminster    Church,    and    for    some    months 
chaplain  of  the  Seventh  Eegiment,  says  : 

"'MRS.  COLONEL  CREIGHTOX:  My  dear  Friend — I  have  just 
read  in  the  dispatches  that  your  brave  husband  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Crane  were  killed  in  the  late  battle  at  Ringgold,  Georgia. 
Oh,  how  sad  this  is  !  Sad  to  me  who  loved  him ;  but  how 
terribly  sad  to  you,  his  beloved  wife!  I  cannot  write  about  it. 
Precious  memories  of  hours  and  days  of  dangers  and  hardships, 
shared  together  in  Western  Virginia  (and  of  one  long,  serious 
conversation  about  death  and  eternity,  as  we  rode  together  at 
midnight  through  the  woods)  crowd  upon  me.  He  was  warm 
hearted,  generous,  and  noble.  He  loved  his  country  unto  death. 
He  was  brave,  even  to  rashness.  But  he  has  gone  !' 

"  'Yes,  the  warm-hearted  friend,  the  loving  brother, 
the  affectionate  son,  the  devoted  husband,  the  brave 
soldier,  the  undying  patriot,  the  fearless  and  fiery 
Creighton,  is  gone  !  We  are  here  to-day  to  honor 
his  memory,  recount  his  heroic  deeds  of  noble 
daring,  mourn  his  fall,  and  convey  his  lifeless  re 
mains — with  those  of  his  brave  comrade,  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  Crane — to  the  tomb  of  a  hero  and  a 
patriot. 

"  '  What*  words  of  elegiac  comfort  shall  I  speak  to 
his  numerous  personal  and  sorrowful  friends  ;  his 
brothers  in  the  union  of  the  same  useful  and  honor 
able  handicraft ;  his  brave  comrades  in  arms  of  the 
noble  Seventh,  and  other  regiments,  who  are  here 
to  attest  their  affection  and  sorrow;  his  brother 
in  the  flesh,  who  is  now  left  without  a  brother;  his 


A    EECOED.  265 

aged  and  sorely  bereaved  mother  ;  and  his  youthful, 
but  grief-stricken,  widow  ?  How  shall  /,  who 
would  take  my  place  with  the  mourners,  speak 
words  of  comfort  to  you  ? 

"  '  Let  us  remember  that  although  our  dear,  dear 
friend  will  no  longer  mingle  with  us  in  the  social  or 
domestic  circle, — will  not  again  lead  regiment  or 
brigade  of  fearless  braves  in  the  thickest  and  hottest 
of  the  fight,  inspiring  to  feats  of  exalted  heroism — 
his  brave  and  generous  heart  now  cold  and  life 
less — dim  and  sightless  those  eyes  whose  radiant  and 
enlivening  orbs  beamed,  now  with  kindness,  and 
now  with  fiery  bravery — his  intercourse  with  the 
living  world,  brought  to  a  final  period, — let  us 
remember,  that  although  Colonel  Creighton  is  gone, 
yet  he  is  not  lost ;  he  is  not  lost  to  his  country,  for 
it  has  his  noble  example  of  true  bravery  and  practi 
cal  patriotism. 

"  '  He  is  not  lost  to  us  who  knew  him,  for  he  lives, 
and  will  ever  live,  templed  in  our  brightest  memo 
ries  and  best  affections.  Nor  can  he  be  lost  to 
history,  for  he  has  made  the  offering  which  places 
his  name  on  its  brightest  page. 

"  'Death  never  comes  alone,  but  is  always  attended 
by  an  escort  of  sadness.  Whenever  the  silver  cord  is 
loosed,  the  golden  bowl  broken,  the  pitcher  broken 
at  the  fountain,  the  wheel  broken  at  the  cistern,  and 

diust  returns  to  the  earth,  as  it  was,  mourners  go 

12 


266       THE  SEVENTH  BEGIMENT I 

about  the  streets.  But  it  is  especially  sad,  when, 
as  in  this  case,  sister,  mother,  and  wife  are  denied 
the  sorrowful  pleasure  of  being  present,  and  minis 
tering  to  the  wants  of  the  dying,  and  speaking 
words  of  Christian  hope.  But  even  this  finds  an 
offset  in  the  fact  that  it  was  his  honored  privilege 
to  die  for  country — to  fall,  covered  with  glory  ! 
Also,  in  the  fact  that  his  body  was  not  mangled — 
that  he  did  not  suffer  long — in  the  assurance  fur 
nished  by  the  words,  '  Oh,  my  dear  wife  !'  uttered 
in  dying  accents  after  he  fell,  and  before  he  expired, 
that  his  last  thoughts  were  of  home  and  kindred  ; 
and  may  not  we  hope  that  these  words  were 
breathed  in  prayer,  and  that  he  threw  his  whole 
soul  helpless,  but  trustfully,  upon  the  merits  of  the 
Saviour  ?  Again,  it  is  a  source  of  great  gratifica 
tion  to  us  all,  and  especially  to  the  relatives,  that 
he  does  not  fill  a  distant  and  unknown  grave — that 
he  was  tenderly  borne  from  the  field,  and  promptly 
forwarded  for  honorable  interment.  His  grave  is  to 
be  in  our  midst,  marked  by  a  marble  shaft,  which 
will  scarcely  crumble  beneath  the  tread  of  the 
coming  ages.  You  can  go  there  and  pay  the 
mournful  tribute  which  nature  and  affection  prompt. 
And  may  it  not  be  believed,  that  from  their  pa 
triotic  ashes  (for  Creighton  and  Crane  fought  and 
fell  together,  and  they  are  to  rest  side  by  side) — is 
it  not  to  be  believed,  that  from  their  patriotic  ashes 


A    KECOBD.  267 

will  spring  a  rich  harvest  in  ~kind,  to  at  once  avenge 
their  fall,  and  save  our  imperilled  country?  And 
will  not  fathers  and  mothers  conduct  their  children 
to  these  honored  graves,  and  there  put  upon  them 
vows  of  eternal  hostility  to  treason  and  to  traitors, 
be  they  secret  or  armed,  even  as  Hamilcar  caused 
his  son  Hannibal  to  swear,  at  the  altar,  eternal 
hatred  to  Rome  ?  And  will  not  every  one  who 
visits  their  tombs,  and  reads  their  epitaphs,  whisper, 
"  Peace  and  honor."  And  when  this  cruel  war  is 
over,  and  the  God  of  our  fathers  shall  crown  our 
labors  and  sufferings  with  success,  and  bestow 
upon  us,  as  a  nation,  an  honorable,  righteous,  and 
perpetual  peace,  then,  amid  the  light,  and  songs, 
and  joy  of  the  nation's  jubilee,  let  their  epitaphs  be 
written  anew.  And  during  all  ages,  peace  to  their 
ashes,  peace  to  their  memory,  and  peace  to  their 
heroic  spirits. 

'• '  Let  us  this  day,  around  the  lifeless  forms  of  these 
fallen  heroes,  not  profanely,  but  solemnly  and  re 
ligiously,  swear  that  the  lives  of  these,  together 
with  the  lives  of  hundreds  of  -thousands  of  the 
flower  of  the  nation,  given  for  the  salvation  of  the 
country,  shall  not  be  given  in  vain  ;  that  we  will 
complete  well,  what  they  have  so  well  begun. 

"  '  I  need  not  ask  of  you,  in  behalf  of  the  aged 
mother  and  bereaved  widow  of  Colonel  Creighton, 
your  warm,  your  practical,  your  continued  sym- 


268       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 

patbies :  these,  I  am  sure,  will  not  be  withheld. 
But  I  now  ask  you  to  join  me  in  one  fervent 
prayer  to  the  God  of  the  aged,  the  fatherless,  and 
the  widow,  our  fathers'  God,  and  the  God  of  bat 
tles,  that  He  will,  by  His  almighty  arm,  sustain, 
and,  by  His  abundant  grace,  comfort  the  aged 
mothers,  and  bereaved  widows,  and  afflicted  friends 
of  our  brave  soldiers,  and  their  departed  sons, 
husbands,  and  brothers  ;  that  He  will  thus  sustain 
and  comfort  all  whose  hearts  have  been  cloven  by 
the  battle-axe  of  war ;  that  He  will  abundantly 
shield,  help,  bless,  and  comfort  our  brave  soldiers 
upon  the  field,  in  the  hospitals,  and  prisoners  in 
the  hands  of  our  enemies  ;  and  that  He  will  speed 
ily  bestow  upon  our  imperilled  country  the  ines 
timable  blessing  of  an  honorable,  righteous,  and 
lasting  peace.  Amen.' 

"  Rev.  C.  C.  Foot,  at  the  request  of  the  family  of 
the  late  Lieutenant-Colonel  Crane,  made  the  fol 
lowing  address  : 

"  '  The  duties  we  are  called  to  perform — the  bear 
ing  of  our  dead  brave  to  their  final  rest— is  indeed 
solemn  and  sad.  That  those  who  admired  and 
loved  them  in  life,  and  delight  to  honor  them  when 
dead,  should,  with  sympathizing  hearts  and  grateful 
hands,  minister  such  a  funeral  ovation,  is  due  to 
them  in  view  of  the  sacrifice  they  made,  the  toils 
they  endured,  and  their  deeds  of  patriotism  and 


A    KECOKD.  269 

valor.  When  the  bugle  was  first  sounded  in  Wash 
ington,  calling  the  North  to  the  defence  of  our 
institutions,  these  were  among  the  first  to  respond ; 
leaving  their  business,  their  friends,  and  their  fam 
ilies,  for  the  field  of  strife,  they  unsheathed  their 
swords  to  strike  for  freedom's  sacred  cause.  In 
many  skirmishes,  and  in  every  battle  of  their  bri 
gade,  they  struck  with  such  bravery  and  success  as 
to  have  secured  perpetual  illustriousness ;  while 
ever  a  nation  exists  to  feel  the  throb  of  a  nation's 
heart,  while  a  man  lives  to  read  the  annals  of 
America,  their  noble  deeds  shall  be  known,  and 
their  illustrious  names  shall  be  honored. 

u  '  They  passed  through  so  many  dangers  almost 
unscarred,  that  they  feared  no  ill,  and  their  families 
began  to  expect  with  confidence  their  return  to 
the  enjoyments  of  home,  ere  many  months  more 
should  have  flown.  But  when  on  Ringgold's  hill 
side  they  raised  their  swords  to  gleam  as  never 
before,  from  a  volley  of  Confederate  musketry  their 
death-warrant  came.  Their  bodies  sank  to  the 
ground — their  spirits  ascended  through  the  smoke- 
cloud  of  battle  to  the  patriot's  God,  to  join  the  slain 
of  the  Seventh  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  where  the 
stars  forever  shine  in  original  splendor  and  glory. 
On  the  morrow,  instead  of  the  ready  pen  reporting 
to  loved  ones  at  home  that  "  all  is  well  with  us," 
the  telegraph  was  put  in  requisition  to  announce 


270  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

that  never  more  should  their  voices  be  heard  by 
friend,  companion,  or  offspring.  Oh,  how  sad  such 
intelligence  !  How  many  families,  how  many  ten 
der,  loving,  trembling  hearts  throughout  the  land, 
have  been  made  sorrowful  by  like  intelligence  sinco 
this  war  was  so  cruelly  hurled  upon  us  ?  From 
what  our  soldier  friends  do  and  suffer  from  the 
myriad  untimely  deaths,  shall  we  not  learn  the 
magnitude  of  the  work  of  the  army,  and  our  great 
indebtedness  to  all  who  have  gone  to  fight  for  us, 
our  homes,  and  our  country  ?  Let  us  render  them 
the  honor  due.  When  men  become  illustrious,  it  is 
but  natural  that  their  friends  review  their  lives, 
and  that  others  inquire  who  they  are,  whence  they 
came,  and  what  circumstances  molded  them  for 
their  greatness.  To  answer  briefly  and  in  part  such 
inquiries  about  one  of  these  brave  men — Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  O.  J.  Crane— is  the  work  to  which  I 
have  been  invited.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Crane  was 
born  in  Chautauque  County,  New  York,  in  the  year 
1829.  When  about  three  years  old,  his  parents 
removed  to  their  native  State,  Yermont.  Soon 
after  this,  his  father  died,  and  he  was  left  to  climb 
life's  rugged  hill  from  his  mother's  arms  to  man 
hood,  without  the  invaluable  aid  of  a  father's  coun 
sels  and  assistance.  lie  was  blest  with  a  kind, 
intelligent,  and  prayerful  mother,  to  whom  he  owed 
no  small  amount  of  gratitude. 


A    RECORD.  271 

"  i  Tier  care  and  labor  for  his  health,  and  even  his 
life,  were  constant  and  great.  While  quite  young, 
he  once  received  a  burn,  so  severe  that  his  life  was 
despaired  of.  The  attendant  physician  said  he 
could  not  live — or  living,  would  always  be  helpless. 
But  his  mother  loved  him  into  life  and  health,  little 
thinking  that  she  had  saved  him  from  one  fire,  only 
to  see  him  exposed  and  becoming  a  victim  to  a 
more  galling  one;  little  thinking  that  to  him,  for 
whose  life  she  struggled,  she  and  the  nation  would 
become  indebted  for  liberty  and  political  security. 
During  his  youth  he  lived  chiefly  with  an  uncle, 
and  with  whom,  about  thirteen  years  ago,  he  lo 
cated  in  Conneaut,  Ohio.  While  there,  he  was 
employed  in  mechanical  labor.  He  spent  one  year 
on  the  Isthmus.  On  his  return  from  the  Isthmus, 
he  came  to  Cleveland,  and  found  employment  as  a 
ship-carpenter.  In  this  city,  and  this  business,  he 
remained  till  called  to  participate  in  our  national 
conflict. 

"  '  As  a  mechanic,  he  enjoyed  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  his  employers  and  his  fellows.  Asa  man, 
he  drew  around  him  a  pleasant  circle  of  friends, 
constant  and  affectionate,  who  deeply  mourn  his 
loss.  In  disposition,  he  was  frank,  manly,  kind, 
and  ever  cheerful.  He  leaves  a  sorrowing  wife,  to 

o 

whom  he  was  married  nine  years  ago,  three  small 
children,    a   mother,   brothers   and   sisters.      Their 


272        THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 

bereavement  is  too  great,  their  grief  too  deep,  for 
even  them  to  express  in  language.  Yet  not  till 
weary  weeks  shall  fail  to  bring  letters  from  the 
battle-field — not  till  months  confirm  t^at  no  hus 
band  returns — not  till  years  reveal  the  need  of  a 
father  to  guide  the  orphans,  and  a  companion  to 
sustain  an  aching  heart,  shall  be  fully  realized  the 
magnitude  of  the  sacrifice  made,  in  laying  upon  a 
nation's  altar  a  husband  and  a  father. 

"'The  subject  of  these  remarks  had  never  made 
a  public  profession  of  faith  in  Jesus.  He  had 
respected  religion.  He  showed  great  kindness 
and  respect  to  the  chaplain  of  his  regiment,  and 
consequently  had  a  good  chaplain.  He  also,  after 
entering  the  service,  became  interested  in  personal 
religion.  He  professed  a  readiness  to  die  when 
called.  Let  us  pray  and  hope  that  beyond  the 
turmoil  of  this  life,  he  may  receive  his  dear  ones  to 
everlasting  fellowship  of  joy. 

" 4  Some  months  ago  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  Though  so  soon  taken  from 
them,  yet — 

" '  By  the  hieroglyphic  bright, 
Which  none  but  craftsmen  ever  saw, 

Strange  memory  on  our  minds  shall  write 
His  honored  name  that's  far  awa.' 

"  '  Citizens  of  Cleveland  and  Ohio,  as  we  embalm 
his  name  in  our  memory,  let  us  not  fail  to  remein- 


A     KECOED.  273 

her,  also,  the  dear  family  he  has  left.  Let  us  give 
them  our  heartfelt  sympathy — riot  the  sympathy  of 
pity,  but  that  of  gratitude — for  his  and  their  debtors 
we  are.  lie  gave  his  life  ;  not  for  himself,  but  for 
us  who  live,  for  our  homes,  and  our  posterity. 
Surrounding  the  husbandless  with  what  comforts 
we  can,  and  supplying  the  fatherless  with  fatherly 
care,  and  aid,  and  sympathy,  let  us,  to  our  utmost, 
discharge  our  indebtedness.  Let  us,  work  and 
pray  that  but  few  more  brave  need  fall ;  and  that 
the  time  be  speeded  when  the  defenders  of  our 
liberties  shall  be  welcomed  home  to  the  enjoyment 
of  their  triumphs,  with  the  jubilant  acclamation  of 
many  millions  of  freemen.' 

"  Professor  II.  E.  Peck,  at  the  request  of  the 
General  Committee,  delivered  the  address  on  behalf 
of  the  city,  as  follows  : 

"  '  On  a  fair  Sabbath  in  May,  only  three  short 
seasons  ago,  just  as  the  bells  were  calling  the  town 
to  worship,  a  regiment  passed  down  yonder  street. 
That,  citizens,  was  a  spectacle  which  you  who  saw 
it  will  never  forget.  J^ot  because  the  marching 
column  was  striking  to  the  eye.  There  was  no 
pageant.  There  were  no  arms,  no  banners.  There 
was  not  even  a  uniform.  The  farmer,  the  student, 
and  the  smith,  were  in  that  line ;  and  the  farmer 
inarched  in  the  garments  he  brought  from  the  fur 
row,  and  the  student  and  the  smith  were  attired  as 
12* 


274       THE  SEVENTH  EEGIMENT: 

they  had  been  in  the  recitation-room  and  shop. 
But  for  all  that,  the  display  was  profoundly  im 
pressive.  Here  was  the  flower  of  the  Reserve. 
Lake,  Mahoning,  Trumbull,  Lorain,  and^Erie,  each 
had  a  hundred  ;  Portage,  twice  a  hundred  ;  and 
Cuyahoga,  thrice  a  hundred  in  the  line.  And  each 
hundred  was  made  up,  not  of  the  rabble,  but  of 
sons,  whom  worthy  fathers  and  mothers  dearly 
loved  ;  of  men,  who,  if  they  should  stay  at  home, 
would  soon  be  conspicuous  for  wealth,  or  learning, 
or  skill  in  useful  arts.  And  these  thousand  true 
men,  loved  well  at  home,  made  of  sterling  stuff, 
were  on  their  way  to  war — to  actual  war.  To  serve 
the  imperilled  country,  they  had  quit  all, — farms, 
shops,  books,  friends,  hopes,  the  past,  the  future,— 
all  but  duty  and  honor.  They  might  never  return. 
The  vow  on  them  might  take  them  to  bloody  fields, 
from  which  there  should  be  no  passage  except 
down  through  the  gates  of  death.  Oh,  kinsman, 
was  not  that  an  impressive  scene  ?  Did  you  ever 
see  the  like  ?  Did  not  tears  wet  your  eyes  as  you 
looked  on  ?  Were  not  the  cheers  with  which  you 
sent  the  heroes  on  their  way  divided,  as  shouts 
of  yours  had  never  before  been,  nor  have  been 
since,  between  admiration  and  sorrow? 

"  '  This,  friends,  was  the  first  march  of  our  gallant 
Seventh.  You  do  not  forget  that  in  that  march 
the  column  was  led  by  a  young  captain,  whose 


A     RECORD.  275 

high  carriage  and  soldierly  bearing  were  almost 
the  only  signs  of  real  military  display.  The  body 
of  that  young  captain  lies  in  one  of  yonder  coffins. 
Of  him,  arfd  his  brave  comrade  who  sleeps  beside 
him,  I  am  to  speak  on  this  occasion.  The  history 
of  the  noble  Seventh  is  their  late  history.  With  it, 
therefore,  let  me  begin. 

'"The  Seventh  left  Cleveland  May  5,  1861.  It 
went  hence  to  Camp  Dennison,  where  E.  B.  Tyler, 
of  Ravenna;  W.  R.  Creighton.  of  Cleveland;  and 
John  S.  Casement,  of  Painesville,  were  made  its 
first  field-officers.  In  the  June  following,  while  it 
was  still  at  Camp  Dennison,  the  regiment  was 
reorganized  and  sworn  into  the  three-years'  service. 
I  well  remember  seeing  Captain  Crane,  whose  re 
mains  are  yonder,  on  a  sweet  Sabbath  afternoon — 
men,  sun,  air,  and  earth,  all  were  glad,  and  the 
harmonies  of  nature  were  tunefully  praising  God — 
bringing  his  company  to  the  colonel's  quarters  to  be 
sworn  in.  I  well  remember  the  impression  which 
the  strong  voice  of  the  sombre  captain  made  upon 
me,  as,  after  the  young  soldiers,  with  bare  heads  and 
uplifted  hands,  had  taken  the  oath,  he  cried,  "  Com 
pany,  right  face;  forward,  march!''  The  tone  of 
the  command  was  as  if  he  would  say,  u  Now,  men, 
there  is  no  retreat.  Only  service,  perhaps  death,  is 
before  you." 

"  'A  week  later,  General   McClellan,   who  had 
12* 


276       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT  : 

then  just  taken  command  of  the  Western  Depart 
ment,  came  looking  for  the  right  material  with 
which  to  begin  his  Western  Virginia  campaign, 
and  inspected  the  regiment.  But  it  was  not  at 
garments  the  shrewd  leader  looked.  It  was  the 
person  he  studied.  He  sought  the  eye.  He  nar 
rowly  scanned  the  look.  Down  the  line  and  hack 
again  he  slowly  went.  I  saw  the  expression  on  his 
face,  as  at  the  end,  he  seemed  to  say  to  himself) 
"They  are  the  right  sort!"  In  the  reorganization  ot 
the  regiment,  the  staff  remained  as  it  was  before. 

"  'On  the  26th  of  June,  1S61,  the  Seventh  left 
Camp  Dennison,  to  enter  on  active  service  in  West 
ern  Virginia.  With  many  long  marches  it  sought 
the  foe.  It  had  begun  to  doubt  whether  it  would 
ever  meet  him,  when,  at  Cross  Lanes,  on  the  26th 
of  August,  he  came,  with  overwhelming  force. 
For  a  brief  space,  the  companies,  separated  from 
each  other,  held  their  ground.  Then,  from  bare 
and  irresistible  necessity,  they  gave  way.  Twenty- 
four  gallant  men  were  left  on  the  field,  dead  or 
wounded.  One  hundred  were  carried  away  prison 
ers,  and  the  remainder  were  scattered  likje  partridges 
which  have  received  the  sportsman's  fire.  At  first, 
tidings  came  to  us  that  the  Seventh  was  wholly 
destroyed.  How  ached  our  hearts  !  Presently, 
better  news  came.  Major  Casement  had  brought 
four  hundred  men  through  the  wilderness  into 


A    RECORD.  277 

Charleston,  and  Captain  Crane  had  come  to  Gauley, 
bringing,  not  only  almost  his  entire  company,  but 
a  flag  which  he  had  captured  from  the  enemy. 

"  '  Then  came  to  the  regiment  days  of  distraction 
and  despondency.  You,  and  others  of  the  Reserve, 
heard  of,  and  agonized  over  its  condition.  To 
encourage  and  cheer  it,  yon  sent  it  a  stand  of  beauti 
ful  colors.  At  the  Academy  of  Music,  as  yon  will 
remember,  before  a  throng  of  your  best  citizens,  the 
standards  were  dedicated. 

"  '  On  a  mountain-side,  in  Western  Virginia,  with 
Rosecrans'  army  lying  miles  up  and  down,  and 
with  the  smoke  jof  the  enemy's  camp-fires  rising  in 
the  distance,  they  were  presented  to  the  regiment. 
I  wish  I  could  picture  the  scene,  the  splendors  of 
the  magnificent  landscape,  the  exquisite  beauty  of 
the  colors  as  they  proudly  glowed  in  the  clear  sun 
light,  the  enthusiasm  of  the  men  and  the  pride  of 
the  officers.  Your  present  helped  to  rouse  the 
spirit  of  the  regiment.  The  words  of  love  and  con 
siderate  regard,  which  you  sent  with  the  gift, 
assured  it  that  its  honor  was  not  yet  lost.  How 
thrilling,  how  hopeful,  was  the  cheer  which  rolled 
off  among  the  hills,  as  the  color-guard  took  its 
trust ! 

"  '  From  the  Kanawha  the  Seventh  went,  on  the 
17 tli  of  December,  1861,  to  the  Potomac.  There, 
now  led  by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Creighton — Colonel 


278  THE    SEVENTH    KEGIMENT  : 

Tyler  having  taken  temporary  command  of  a  bri 
gade—it  met,  at  Winchester,  March  23,  1862,  Jack 
son's  celebrated  "  Stonewall  Legion."  Hot  was  the 
fire,  when  the  Northern  iron  met  the  Southern 
flint.  The  Seventh  left  fifty-six  dead  and  wounded 
on  the  field.  But  it  won  a  name  in  the  fight.  The 
story  told  of  them,  the  land  over,  was,  they  fought 
lilce  veterans.  Then  came  the  long  chase  up  the 
Shenandoah,  then  the  hard  march  across  to  Eastern 
Virginia,  and  back  to  the  gates  of  the  Shenandoah. 
Then  came  Port  Republic,  the  first  square  stand-up 
fight  which  the  regiment  had,  when,  led  by  Creigh- 
ton,  in  an  open  field,  in  a  line  trim  enough  for  a 
dress  parade,  and  with  "  Cross  Lanes"  for  its  battle- 
cry,  the  glorious  Seventh  charged  down  on  Jack 
son's  steadfast  front.  Ah,  how  the  list  of  the  dead 
and  wounded  was  again  fearfully  swelled  !  Seventy- 
two  names  were  added  to  it. 

"  '  By  this  time  the  regiment  had  become  so  re 
duced  by  the  casualties  of  war,  that  its  friends  on 
the  Reserve  asked  that  it  might  be  sent  home  to 
recruit.  "  No,"  promptly  replied  discriminating 
Halleck,  "  not  so  long  as  there  is  a  lame  drummer 
left;  not  if  you  will  send  us  a  whole  new  regiment 
in  place  of  this  handful.  We  know  these  men,  they 
are  ju?t  such  as  we  want."  Colonel  Tyler's  promo 
tion  to  a  brigadiership  brought  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Creighton  to  the  head  of  the  regiment,  and  this, 


A    RECORD.  279 

and  other  changes,  presently  made  Captain  Crane 
a  Lieutenant-Colonel.  The  regiment  now  had 
plenty  of  duty.  It  fought  at  Cedar  Mountain,  and 
there,  on  the  extreme  advance,  it  met  the  brunt  of 
danger. 

"  '  In  one  company,  out  of  twenty-one  men  en 
gaged,  eighteen  fell  killed  or  wounded.  The  whole 
regiment  suffered  in  hardly  less  proportion.  One 
hundred  and  ninety-six,  of  the  two  hundred  and 
ninety-seven  heroes  engaged,  fell.  There,  fiery 
Creighton,  as  usual,  not  content  to  be  elsewhere 
than  on  the  extreme  front,  was  so  severely 
wounded  that  he  was  compelled  to  come  home  to 
recover. 

u  '  Soon  the  regiment  was  at  Antietam,  and  there  it 
shared  the  toils  and  honors  of  that  honorable  field. 
Thirty-eight  fallen  men,  out  of  one  hundred  en 
gaged,  was  the  price  it  paid  for  its  opportunity. 
Presently  it  fought  and  prevailed  against  great  odds 
at  Dumfries.  Here  it  lost  ten  more  of  its  scant  few. 

"  'In  the  next  year's  campaign,  after  lying  in  camp 
and  being  considerably  recruited,  the  regiment  was 
at  Chancellorsville.  There  it  did  good  service,  by 
catching  and  holding  on  its  steady  line  droves  of 
fugitives,  who  were  ingloriously  seeking  the  rear, 
and  by  covering  the  retreat  of  its  corps.  It  lost,  at 
Chancellorsville,  ninety-nine  men.  Next  the  regi 
ment  was  at  Gettysburg.  There,  for  the  first  time 


280  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT! 

in  its  history,  it  fought  behind  defences ;  nor  could 
Ewell,  surging  with  fiery  valor  up  against  the  rocky 
rampart,  break  the  line  which  it,  and  its  compeers 
of  the  Twelfth  Corps,  held.  The  Seventh  lost  at 
Gettysburg  nineteen  men ;  and,  as  from  every  field 
before,  so  from  this,  it  brought  honor  and  a  new 
name.  From  the  Potomac  the  regiment  went,  in 
September  last,  to  the  Tennessee.  There,  on  the 
24th  of  last  month,  it  shared  in  that  brilliant  "  bat;- 
tle  above  the  clouds,"  by  which  Hooker  cleared 
Lookout  Mountain.  Decisive  as  the  result  of  its 
courage  here  was,  it  seems  to  have  left  behind  but 
one  wounded  man  as  its  share  of  the  sacrifice  which 
the  victory  cost.  Then  came  the  pursuit  of  Bragg, 
and  the  overtaking  of  his  rear-guard  at  Ringgold ; 
then  the  climbing,  by  the  Twelfth  Corps,  of  that 
bare  hill,  on  the  top  of  which  the  enemy  was  se 
curely  posted.  Staunch  Creighton  was  in  command 
of  a  brigade,  and  Crane  led  the  Seventh.  The 
charge  was  a  desperate  one,  but  Creighton  did  not 
falter.  Kindling  to  that  ardor  of  which  he  was  so 
susceptible,  he  urged  his  command  on.  "  Boys,"  he 
said,  "  we  are  ordered  to  take  that  hill.  I  want  to 
see  you  walk  right  up  it."  Then  putting  himself, 
not  in  the  rear,  as  being  temporarily  a  brigadier  he 
might  have  done,  but  far  in  the  advance,  he  led  the 
way.  And  Crane,  close  behind,  stoutly  held  the 
Seventh  to  its  bloody  work.  The  men  were  ready 


A    EECOKD,  281 

for  the  task.  The  zeal  of  Cross  Lanes,  of  Winches 
ter,  of  Port  Kepublic,  burned  to  a  white  heat.  The 
gallant  Seventh,  leading  the  column,  flung  itself 
into  the  billows  of  fire,  as  if  it  were  rescuing  home 
from  robber  hands.  But,  ah  !  cliivalric  Creighton 
fell,  and,  alas !  sturdy  Crane,  too ;  and  of  the  com 
missioned  officers  of  the  Seventh,  but  one  remained 
unhurt.  Is  it  wonderful  that  the  grand  old  regi 
ment,  losing  the  inspiring  command  of  the  brave 
soldiers  whose  voices  had  so  often  aroused  its  pur 
poses,  fell  back  ?  Oh,  Creighton  and  Crane,  had  you 
lived,  the  Seventh  would,  perhaps,  without  help, 
have  carried  the  dear  old  colors,  tattered  by  so 
many  leaden  storms,  into  the  enemy's  defiant  works  ! 
Sad  tale  that  I  must  tell,  of  the  two  hundred  and 
ten  sons  and  brothers  of  ours  who  went  into  the 
fight,  ninety  fell ;  of  the  fourteen  commissioned  offi 
cers  on  the  field,  thirteen  were  killed  or  wounded. 

"  'My  story  of  the  Seventh  is  done.  Yes,  the  Sab 
bath  comes ;  sweet,  clear  day,  as  bright  as  that  holy 
morn  on  which  the  Seventh  first  went  its  way.  A 
sad  cortege  passes  up  the  same  street  yonder.  Mu 
sic  wails  at  its  head.  A  downcast  guard  of  honor 
marches,  with  mourning  colors,  behind  hearses 
trimmed  with  the  badges  of  woe.  Look  you,  kin 
dred,  the  band  which  follows  the  dead  is  made  up 
of  the  men  who  marched  in  that  May  Sabbath  line 
two  years  ago.  But  the  farmer,  the  student,  the 


282       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 

smith,  are  not  there.  These  are  soldiers  all.  They 
are  scarred  with  the  marks  of  Cross  Lanes,  of  Win 
chester — -nay,  let  me  not  stop  to  recite  the  long  list 
of  battles  through  which  they  have  passed.  Yes, 
here  is  part  of  the  scant  few  left  out  of  the  eighteen 
hundred  staunch  men  who  have  stood  under  the 
flag  of  the  Seventh  ;  and  here,  hearse-borne,  are  the 
bodies  of  the  good  leaders  who  shall  head  the  regi 
ment  no  more.  Pause  now,  citizens,  while  I  tejl 
you  about  these  noble  men.  Colonel  Creighton 
was  born  in  Pittsburgh.  He  was  but  twenty-six 
years  of  age  when  he  fell.  For  several  years  he  fol 
lowed  the  trade  of  a  printer  in  this  city.  But  he 
was  born  to  be  a  soldier,  and  years  ago  he  learned, 
in  civic  schools,  a  soldier's  trade.  So,  when  the  war 
broke  out,  he  was  fit  to  take  command.  He 
raised  a  company  in  this  city.  At  once  his  military 
talent  was  revealed.  He  had  not  a  peer  in  the  camp 
as  a  drill-master,  and  there  was  something  about  his 
ardent  nature  which  made  men  feel  that  he  was  fit 
to  command.  Thus  superior  office  came  to  him— 
he  did  not  seek  it.  But  getting  it,  he  discharged 
his  duties  well.  He  was  affectionate  to  his  men, 
erring  only  in  being,  perhaps,  too  free  with  them. 
And  when  battle  came,  he  was  a  master-spirit  in  the 
dreadful  storm.  Burning  with  enthusiasm,  almost 
rash  with  courage,  he  could  inspire  his  "game 
cocks" — as  he  familiarly  called  his  men — with  such 


A    RECOKD.  283 

qualities  as  are  most  needed  in  the  charge  and  in 
the  deadly  breach.  I  have  often  asked  sound  think 
ing  members  of  the  Seventh,  ''What  of  Creighton?" 
The  answer  has  always  been,  "He  is  a  soldier,  every 
inch." 

"  '  Lieutenant-Colonel  Crane  was  born  in  Troy, 
Xew  York,  in  the  year  1828.  He,  too,  has  been  a 
mechanic  here  for  many  years.  Like  his  chief,  he, 
too,  had  learned  the  use  of  arms  before  the  war  com 
menced.  He  was,  therefore,  amply  qualified  to  take 
command  of  his  company  when  Captain  Creighton 
was  promoted.  And  no  ordinary  disciplinarian 
was  Captain  Crane.  He  had  a  difficult  company, 
but  it  was  with  a  strong  hand  that  he  laid  hold  of 
his  work.  Headstrong  men  had  a  master  in  him. 
Withal,  he  was  the  soul  of  kindness  to  those  he 
commanded.  His  rugged  nature,  despising  military 
finery,  and  the  pomps  and  forms  of  military  life, 
came  down  at  once  to  plain,  blunt,  frank,  but  sin 
cere  and  hearty  intercourse  with  the  men  under 
him.  If  you  wished  to  find  Captain  Crane,  you 
must  look  for  him  where  his  boys  were;  and  if  his 
boys  had  had  a  trying  or  toilsome  work,  you  might 
be  sure  he  was  lightening  the  load  by  his  own  ex 
ample  of  brave  and  sturdy  patience.  He  did  not 
have  an  impulsive  nature.  He  was  riot  a  thunder 
bolt  on  the  field.  He  was  rock,  rather.  Fiery 
floods  might  break  against  him,  and  yet  he  was 


284       THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT  I 

always   the   same;    always   imperturbable,  honest, 
strong. 

'"I  should  have  said  before,  that  Colonel  Creigh- 
ton  was  in  every  battle  which  the  Seventh  ever 
fought,  except  Antietam.  It  is  in  place  for  me 
to  say  here,  that  Lieutenant-Colonel  Crane  took 
part  in  every  battle  in  which  his  regiment  shared. 
I  doubt  if  another  instance  of  the  kind  is  on  record. 

Would  that  the  Hand  which  had  so  often  averted 

i 

danger,  could  have  turned  the  fatal  bullets  aside  at 
Ringgold ! 

"  'And  now,  friends,  I  am,  at  the  invitation  of 
the  joint-committee  of  the  city  council,  the  mili 
tary,  the  Typographical  Union,  the  ship-carpenters, 
and  yourselves,  and  as  the  representative  of  other 
towns,  who  helped  raise  the  Seventh,  to  bring  a 
tribute  of  gratitude  and  praise  to  the  memory  of 
the  gallant  dead.  In  my  poor  way,  I  here  certify 
to  the  noble  qualities,  to  the  brave  deeds  of  the 
soldiers  coffined  yonder.  I  come  to  say,  that  the 
honor  done  them  by  the  city,  by  the  military,  by 
yourselves,  by  good  men  who,  in  other  towns, 
mourn  their  loss,  is  well  bestowed.  The  heroes 
have  earned  their  honors.  They  have  bought 
them  with  such  high  conduct,  with  such  self-sacri 
fices,  as  the  brightest  laurels  poorly  reward.  I 
know  not  how  those  souls,  which  lately  inhabited 
yonder  clay,  stand  in  the  other  world  (would  that 


A    RECORD.  285 

your  prayers  and  mine  could  reach  them),  but  I 
do  know,  that  their  names  shall  live  in  this  world 
forever.  The  marble  you  shall  put  up  over  their 
dust  will  itself  have  gone  to  dust  before  their 
renown  shall  have  passed  from  the  hearts  and 
lips  of  men. 

"  '  Would,  friends,  that  you  and  I,  by  any  minis 
try  of  love,  could  staunch  these  widows'  and  half- 
orphans'  tears.  Oh  !  sisters  bereaved,  and  dear  lit 
tle  children,  now  fatherless,  may  God  in  His  mercy 
keep  you  !  May  He  be  help  and  hope  to  you ! 
Remember,  I  pray  you,  that  the  spilled  blood 
which  was  so  dear  to  you,  was  precious  also  to 
God ;  that,  it  is  from  such  seed  that  He  makes 
freedom,  peace,  social  order,  and  prosperity  to 
grow. 

"  '  And,  citizens,  what  shall  I  say  of  the  Seventh, 
which  mourns  its  noble  dead  ?  Shall  I  summon 
here  the  spirits  of  those  who  have  fallen  on  the 
half-score  fields,  where  the  staunch  old  regiment 
has  left  its  dead  ?  Shall  I  call  from  the  shadowy 
world  those  who  have  died  in  festering  prisons  ? 
Shall  I  order  the  rally  for  those  who,  broken  in 
body,  shall  engage  in  active  pursuits  no  more? 
Shall  I  bring  from  the  field  the  little  remnant — 
headed  by  the  one-unhurt  commissioned  officer, 
and  under  this  dear,  chafed,  and  rent  old  flag, 
which  no  longer  shines  with  the  glory  of  color 


286       THE  SEVENTH  EEGIMENT  : 

and  figure  which  it  displayed  when  first  unfurled 
in  your  Academy  of  Music,  but  which  is  lustrous 
with  the  light  with  which  brave  deeds  have  in 
vested  it — shall  I  tell  them  of  your  love  for,  and 
your  gratitude  to  them  ?  Nay,  this  I  cannot  do. 
But  I  can  say  to  these  representatives  of  the  regi 
ment  who  are  with  us,  and  through  them  to  that 
little  handful  of  bronzed  veterans  who,  huddling 
around  a  single  camp-fire  at  Chattanooga,  are  the* 
last  remnant  of  the  Seventh — to  you,  honored  men, 
we  owe  a  debt  we  can  never  discharge..  You 
sprang  to  arms,  when  others  hesitated.  You  en 
tered  the  flinty  paths  of  war  with  feet  shod  only 
for  the  gentle  ways  of  peace.  Often  have  you 
been  tried,  never  have  you  failed ;  and  the  honor  of 
the  Reserve,  which  we  committed  to  you,  has  been 
proudly  kept  on  every  field.  And  in  this  hour  of 
weighty  bereavement,  our  feelings  towards  you 
and  your  comrades,  living  and  dead,  is  like  that  of 
the  pious  Scotch  woman  who,  when  grim  Claver- 
house  having  first  shot  her  husband,  laughing, 
asked,  "Well,  woman,  what  thinkest  thou  of  thy 
good  man  now  ?"  quietly  replied,  as  she  drew  the 
pierced  head  to  her  bosom,  and  wiped  the  death- 
damp  from  his  brow :  "  I  aye  thought  much  of 
him,  but  now  more  than  ever." 

"  '  Now,  bearers,  take  out  your  dead.     Put  the 
cherished  remains  in  an  honored  place.     Tell  art  to 


A    RECORD.  287 

lift  above  them  worthy  marble.  Write  upon  the 
stone  the  names  of  the  battles  in  which  our  heroes 
have  fought.  Write  also  the  virtues  of  the  dead. 
Write,  too,  that  gratitude  has  lifted  the  monument, 
partly  to  do  honor  to  them,  worthy  of  it,  whom 
human  praise  can  never  reach ;  and  to  teach  the 
living  that  it  is  well  to  make  even  life  a  sacrifice  to 
duty.  And  when  our  war  has  been  ended,  when 
peace  and  freedom  shall  be  in  all  our  borders, 
thronging  feet  shall,  through  all  the  generations, 
come  up  to  your  memorial,  and  learn  lessons  of 
heroism  and  self-sacrifice.' 

"  Rev.  William  Goodrich,  of  the  First  Presby 
terian  Church,  made  the  closing  prayer;  after 
which  the  choir  chanted  impressively  the  following 
hymn : 

"  '  With  tearful  eyes  I  look  around, 

Life  seems  a  dark  and  gloomy  sea  ; 
Yet  midst  the  gloom  I  hear  a  sound, 
A  heavenly  whisper,  '  Come  to  Me.' 

" '  It  tells  me  of  a  place  of  rest — 

It  tells  me  where  my  soul  may  flee  ; 
Oh  !  to  the  weary,  faint,  oppressed, 

How  sweet  the  bidding,  '  Come  to  Me  1' 

" '  When  nature  shudders,  loth  to  part 

From  all  I  love,  enjoy,  and  see, 
When  a  faint  chill  steals  o'er  thy  heart, 
A  sweet  voice  utters,  '  Come  to  Me.' 

" '  Come,  for  all  else  must  fade  and  die, 
Earth  is  no  resting  place  for  thee ; 


288  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

Heavenward  direct  thy  weeping  eye, 
I  am  thy  portion,  '  Come  to  Me.' 

" '  Oh,  voice  of  mercy !  voice  of  love ! 

In  conflict,  grief,  and  agony  ; 
Support  me,  cheer  me  from  above ! 
And  gently  whisper,  Come  to  Me.' 

"  This  closed  the  exercises  at  the  church. 


THE    FUNEEAL    PROCESSION. 

* 

"  As  soon  as  the  exercises  in  the  church  closed, 
the  Brooklyn  Light  Artillery  commenced  firing 
minute-guns  from  the  field-piece  planted  on  the 
square  in  front  of  the  church.  At  the  same  time, 
the  chimes  of  Trinity  rang  a  muffled  peal,  and  the 
bells  in  all  the  other  churches  commenced  tolling. 
The  square  and  the  streets  leading  to  it  were  packed 
with  people  from  the  city  and  surrounding  country, 
the  latter  having  been  pouring  in  all  the  morning. 
It  seemed  almost  impossible  to  keep  an  open  space 
in  so  great  a  crowd,  but  the  admirable  management 
of  the  marshals  of  the  day  and  the  city  police, 
aided  by  the  spirit  of  order  and  decorum  in  the 
crowd,  succeeded  in  preventing  any  trouble  or  con 
fusion. 

"The  procession  was  formed  in  nearly  the  order 
as  at  first  arranged.  First  came  Leland's  band, 
playing  the  "Dead  March."  Then  the  Twenty- 
ninth  Regiment,  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel 


A    RECORD.  289 

Frazee,  with  arms  reversed  and  bound  with  crape. 
Next  the  discharged  officers  and  soldiers  of  the 
Seventh,  headed  by  their  old  band.  These  old  mem 
bers  of  the  regiment  numbered  sixty,  and  were 
formed  into  a  company,  under  Captain  Molyneaux. 
They  were  followed  by  the  clergymen  of  the  city, 
after  which  came  the  bodies. 

"  Colonel  Creighton's  body  was  in  a  hearse  drawn 
by  four  white  horses,  from  undertaker  Duty ;  and 
the  body  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Crane,  in  a  hearse 
drawn  by  four  black  horses,  from  undertaker  How- 
land.  Behind  the  hearses  were  led  two  horses  fully 
caparisoned.  The  pall-bearers,  whose  names  have 
been  previously  given,  walked  beside  the  hearses. 
Eleven  carriages,  containing  the  mourners,  came 
next,  followed  by  a  carriage  containing  Lieutenant 
Loomis,  Sergeant-Major  Tisdel,  Bugler  Welzel,  and 
privates  Shepherd  and  Meigs,  forming  the  escort 
from  the  Seventh.  Next  were  the  members  of  the 
old  Cleveland  Light  Guard,  with  their  badges  and 
flags ;  Governor  Brough  and  other  invited  guests, 
committee  of  arrangements,  city  council,  city  offi 
cers,  county  military  committee,  two  hundred  sick 
and  wounded  soldiers  from  the  United  States  Military 
Hospital,  soldiers  from  the  Twelfth  Cavalry,  Brook 
lyn  Light  Artillery,  Captain  Pelton  ;  other  military 
and  officers  of  the  United  States  regular  and  volun 
teer  services  ;  United  States  Court  officers,  Typogra- 


290      THE  SEVENTH  REGIMENT: 

pliical  Union,  ship-carpenters,  old  Light  Guard,  un 
der  Captain  J.  Robinson,  students  from  Commercial 
College,  County  Court  officers,  citizens  on  foot,  citi 
zens  in  carriages. 

"  The  procession  was  of  great  length,  and  passed 
through  a  dense  crowd  of  thousands  of  people 
during  the  whole  way.  It  was  well  managed  by 
Colonel  William  H.  Hayward,  chief  marshal  of 
the  day,  and  his  assistants,  H.  M.  Chapin, 
William  Edwards,  John  M.  Sterling,  junior,  and 
C.  Busch.  The  police  were  again  of  incalculable 
value  in  clearing  the  way  and  keeping  perfect 
order. 

AT   THE   TOMB. 

"  The  lot  in  the  Woodland  Cemetery,  intended  as 
the  final  resting-place  of  the  heroic  dead,  not  having 
yet  been  selected,  the  bodies  were  taken  to  the  City 
Cemetery,  and  deposited  temporarily  in  the  Brad- 
burn  Vault,  the  use  of  which  had  been  generously 
tendered.  The  police  again,  ever  vigilant  and 
effective,  had  kept  the  cemetery  and  its  approaches 
free  from  the  vast  crowd  until  the  procession  had 
entered,  and  then  secured  ample  room,  so  that  there 
was  no  crowding  or  confusion. 

<;  The  Twenty-ninth  Regiment  was  drawn  up  in 
line,  with  colors  immediately  opposite  the  tomb. 
The  company  of  the  old  members  of  the  Seventh, 


A    EECOBD.  291 

with  reversed  arms,  stood  at  the  right  of  the 
tomb. 

"  As  the  procession  moved  up  to  the  tomb  the 
band  played  a  dirge.  The  Rev.  W.  A.  Fiske, 
rector  of  Grace  Church,  read  the  beautiful  and 
impressive  burial-service  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
the  bodies  were  placed  in  the  vault,  the  final  prayer 
said,  and  then  the  door  of  the  tomb  was  closed. 
The  old  members  of  the  Seventh  fired  three  rolleys 
over  the  tomb,  and  all  was  over.  The  heroic  dead 
sleep  undisturbed. 

"  So  ended  the  grandest  and  the  most  mournful 
pageant  that  has  passed  through  the  streets  of  Cleve 
land  for  many  a  year." 

LIEUT.-COL.   MERVm   CLARK. 

On  a  gloomy  night  in  May,  1861,  when  the  wind 
was  howling  in  fitful  gusts,  and  the  rain  pouring 
down  in  merciless  rapidity,  the  writer  was  awakened 
by  the  stentorian  voice  of  the  adjutant  in  front  of 

the  tent,  followed  by  an  order  that  Lieutenant 

would  report  for  guard-duty.  After  wading  half- 
knee  deep  in  mud  and  water,  narrowly  escaping  a 
cold  bath  in  an  over-friendly  ditch,  I  arrived  at  the 
headquarters  of  the  guard.  Soon  after  my  arrival, 
a  boy  reported  to  me  for  duty,  as  sergeant  of  the 
guard ;  a  position  no  less  responsible  than  my  own. 

At  first  I  felt  that,  on  such  a  fearful  night,  I  needed 
13 


292      THE  SEVENTH  BEGIMENT: 

more  than  a  boy  to  assist  me  in  the  performance  of 
my  task.  His  form  was  fragile ;  his  face  was 
smooth  as  that  of  a  girl,  and  in  the  dim,  shadowy 
light  of  a  camp-fire,  struggling  against  the  heavy 
rain,  I  took  him  to  be  about  fifteen  years  of  age. 
"We  immediately  entered  into  conversation,  and 
between  admiration  and  surprise,  the  rain  was  for 
gotten,  and  the  moments  sped  so  rapidly,  that  it 
was  nearing  the  time  to  change  the  guard.  Bu^t 
my  boy  companion  had  forgotten  nothing,  and  as 
the  moment  arrived,  he  called  in  the  relief.  As  he 
moved  among  those  sturdy  warriors,  it  occurred  to 
me  that  I  had  never  before  met  a  boy,  who  was  at 
the  same  time  a  man — a  brave,  prudent,  reliable 
man.  All  night  he  did  his  duty,  and  when  we 
parted  in  the  morning,  I  both  loved  and  admired 
him.  This  was  my  first  meeting  with  Colonel 
Clark. 

Mervin  Clark  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  having  been 
born  in  the  city  of  Cleveland,  in  1843.  When  but 
three  }Tears  of  age  his  mother  died,  and  at  the  age 
of  nine  his  surviving  parent,  leaving  him  an  orphan. 
He  was  now  taken  into  the  family  of  Henry  W. 
Clark,  an  uncle,  where  he  found  a  home,  and  kind 
friends,  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

The  flash  of  the  last  gun  at  Sumter  had  hardly 
died  away,  when  he  enrolled  himself  as  a  private 
in  Captain  De  Yilliers'  company,  at  the  same  time 


A    EECOBD.  293 

declaring  that  lie  would,  by  no  act  of  his,  leave  the 
service  of  his  country,  until  rebels  in  arms  were 
met  and  subdued.  How  well  he  kept  that  pledge, 
it  is  the  office  of  this  brief  sketch  to  show. 

He  left  Camp  Dennison  as  an  orderly-sergeant, 
and  during  the  trying  marches  and  skirmishes  in 
"Western  Virginia,  won  a  commission.  Arriving  in 
the  East,  he  was  made  a  first-lieutenant.  At  the 
battle  of  Winchester,  he  surprised  and  delighted 
every  one  who  saw  him.  When  the  bullets  flew 
thickest,  he  stepped  on  to  the  brink  of  the  hill,  over 
which  our  men  were  firing,  and,  with  revolver  in 
hand,  took  part  in  the  strife.  His  captain,  seeing 
his  danger,  directed  him  to  get  behind  a  tree  which 
stood  close  by.  He  obeyed  orders,  but  with  his 
back  to  the  tree,  and  his  face  to  the  foe.  At  the 
battle  of  Cedar  Mountain,  he  'commanded  a  com 
pany,  and  during  that  fearful  day,  led  his  men  with 
great  bravery.  At  last,  when  the  order  was  given 
to  retreat,  lie  mistook  it  for  an  order  to  charge,  and, 
with  a  dozen  men,  dashed  at  the  double  line  of  a 
whole  brigade  of  rebels.  It  was  not  until  an  officer 
of  authority  conveyed  the  true  order  to  him,  that 
he  would  withdraw.  He  now  took  part  in  all  the 
battles  in  which  his  regiment  was  engaged  in  the 
East,  except  Antietam.  When  the  regiment  left 
fur  the  West,  he  accompanied  it,  and  soon  after 
took  part  in  the  battles  of  Lookout  Mountain, 


294  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT : 

Mission  Ridge,  Taylor's  Ridge,  and  the  series  of 
engagements  taking  place  while  with  Sherman. 
Before  his  term  of  service  expired,  he  was  made  a 
captain,  and  commanded  his  company  on  its  home 
ward  march.  He  was  soon  after  mustered  out  with 
his  company.  He  now  sought  quiet  and  rest  at  his 
home,  giving  no  evidence  of  an  intention  to  again 
enter  the  service.  But  before  he  had  been  at  home 
many  weeks,  he  surprised  and  disappointed  hi* 
friends  by  enlisting  as  a  private  in  the  regular 
army.  His  fame,  however,  was  too  wide-spread  in 
Ohio  to  suffer  him  to  re-enter  the  service  as  a 
private.  Governor  Brough  had  already  selected 
him  for  promotion,  and  when  learning  of  his  enlist 
ment  in  the  regular  service,  procured  an  order  for 
his  discharge,  and  immediately  appointed  him 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Eighty- 
third  Regiment,  then  about  to  enter  the  field.  He 
had  now  come  of  age,  November  5th,  and  on  the 
8th  of  November  cast  his  first  vote;  on  the  12th, 
he  received  his  commission ;  and  on  the  loth,  he 
left  for  the  front.  His  regiment  joined  the  army  of 
General  Thomas,  on  its  retreat  before  the  rebel 
forces  under  Hood.  On  the  30th  of  November,  the 
regiment  was  engaged  in  the  terrible  battle  of 
Franklin.  During  the  engagement,  the  regiment 
was  ordered  to  charge  the  enemy's  works.  The 
color-bearer  was  soon  shot  down,  when  Clark  seized 


A    BECOBD.  295 

the  colors,  and  calling  to  his  men,  "  Who  will  follow 
me  to  retake  these  works?"  mounted  the  rebel 
works,  and  immediately  fell,  a  minie  ball  having 
passed  through  his  head.  Every  effort  was  made 
to  take  his  body  from  the  field,  but  to  no  purpose, 
and  the  "  boy  officer"  was  wrapped  in  his  blanket, 
and  buried  on  the  field  of  his  fame,  to  be  finally 
removed  by  careful  hands,  when  the  earth  had 
covered  every  vestige  of  the  strife  in  its  friendly 
bosom. 

LIEUTENANT   HENRY  ROBINSON. 

Henry  Robinson  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  en 
tered  the  service  as  first-lieutenant  of  Company  G. 
He  was  always  attentive  to  his  duties,  and  soon 
took  a  position  among  the  first  of  his  rank.  He 
was  constantly  with  his  command  during  its  early 
service.  He  was  .in  the  skirmish  at  Cross  Lanes, 
where  he  won  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the 
entire  command  by  his  gallant  conduct.  In  this 
affair,  he  commanded  Company  G.  Arriving  at 
Charleston,  he  was  sent  to  Gauley  Bridge,  and  soon 
after  was  taken  violently  sick  with  a  fever.  He 
soon  after  died. 

In  the  death  of  Lieutenant  Robinson,  the  regi 
ment  made  one  of  its  greatest  sacrifices.  He  was 
esteemed  by  every  one  for  his  kind  and  courteous 
manners,  as  well  as  for  his  ability  as  a  soldier.  He 


296  THE  SEVENTH  KEGIMENT: 

had  many  friends  in  the  army,  and  at  home,  and  I 
doubt  very  much  if  he  had  an  enemy  in  the  world. 
His  military  career  was  short,  but  of  such  a  char 
acter  that  his  friends  can  refer  to  it  with  pride. 

LIEUTENANT  E.  S.  QUAY. 

E.  S.  Quay  entered  the  service  as  second-lieuten 
ant  of  Company  G.  He  was  with  the  regiment  at 
Cross  Lanes,  where  he  gave  promise  of  much  future 
usefulness  as  a  soldier.  He  accompanied  the  regi 
ment  to  Eastern  Virginia,  where  he  was  acting 
assistant  adjutant-general  to  Colonel  Tyler.  He 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  Winchester,  where  he  did 
splendid  service.  After  Tyler's  promotion  to  a 
general,  he  was  made  adjutant-general,  and  as 
signed  to  his  staff.  In  this  capacity,  he  served  in 
the  battle  of  Port  Republic,  where  he  gained  new 
laurels.  He  finally  went  to  his  home  on  account 
of  ill-health,  and  after  a  time,  died  of  consumption. 
He  was  a  good  soldier. 

LIEUTENANT   JAMES   P.  BRISBINE. 

James  P.  Brisbine  was  a  native  of  Trumbull 
County,  Ohio.  He  was  born  in  1836.  His  parents 
dying  while  he  was  quite  young,  he  went  to  live 
with  an  uncle  by  the  name  of  Applegate.  He  re 
ceived  a  fair  education,  and  during  the  time,  in  part, 
maintaining  himself  by  teaching  school  in  winter. 


A    KECOKD.  297 

In  the  spring  of  I860,  he  commenced  reading  law 
in  Warren,  Ohio,  which  lie  continued  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  rebellion.  During  his  course 
of  study,  he  gave  promise  of  an  able  and  useful 
lawyer.  When  it  became  evident  that  the  rebellion 
could  not  be  suppressed  but  by  the  force  of  arms, 
he  deemed  it  his  duty  to  leave  the  study  of  the 
profession  of  his  choice,  and  enroll  himself  among 
the  defenders  of  his  country.  This  step  he  consid 
ered  as  a  decided  sacrifice'  to  him ;  for,  by  nature, 
he  was  in  no  way  inclined  to  the  life  of  a  soldier ; 
he  preferred  the  quiet  life  of  a  citizen,  which  is 
alone  to  be  found  at  home.  It  was  with  many 
misgivings  that  he  finally  placed  his  name  on  the 
roll.  In  doing  this,  he  was  alone  influenced  by 
patriotic  motives.  When  urged  to  be  a  candidate 
for  the  position  of  sergeant,  he  declined  to  have 
any  thing  to  do  with  the  matter ;  but  was  elected, 
notwithstanding  his  indifference. 

At  Camp  Dennison,  he  was  made  orderly-ser 
geant.  He  took  part  in  the  skirmish  at  Cross 
Lanes,  where  he  made  a  good  record  as  a  ^soldier. 
Soon  after  entering  the  field,  his  health  failed  him. 
The  long  marches  often  taxed  him  beyond  his 
strength  ;  but  he  seldom  complained.  He  was  not 
in  the  battle  of  Winchester  on  account  of  sickness, 
being  disabled  from  the  effects  of  the  severe  march 

from    Strasburg,   which   took   place   a   short   time 
13* 


298  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

before.  He  expressed  many  regrets  on  account  of 
liis  absence.  But  he  very  soon  had  an  opportunity 
to  test  his  courage  on  the  battle-field.  The  engage 
ment  of  Port  Republic  occurred  shortly  after.  He 
was  in  no  respect  second  in  gallantry  to  those  who 
were  in  the  previous  battle.  He  was  ever  at  his 
post,  doing  his  duty.  During  the  latter  part  of  the 
battle,  a  captain,  an  intimate  friend,  fell,  severely 
wounded.  He  caught  him  in  his  arms,  and  laid 
him  gently  on  the  ground,  pillowing  his  head  in 
his  lap.  The  regiment  moved  off,  and  the  rebels 
advanced ;  but  he  refused  to  leave  his  friend. 
And  he  did  not  leave  until  the  captain  was  borne 
away  by  his  comrades.  He  passed  through  this 
battle  without  a  scratch.  He  accompanied  the 
regiment  to  Alexandria,  and  from  there  to  the  front 
of  Pope's  army.  He  now  took  part  in  the  battle 
of  Cedar  Mountain.  While  cheering  his  men  for 
ward,  he  was  wounded.  Two  men  took  him  in 
their  arms,  and  started  in  search  of  the  hospital ; 
but  before  they  were  off  the  field  a  bullet  struck 
him  in  the  groin,  severing  the  femoral  artery. 
Said  he,  "  Remember,  boys,  I  die  for  my  country," 
and  expired  in  their  arms.  Thus,  a  true  and  de 
voted  friend  of  his  country  died  to  preserve  it  from 
the  attacks  of  those  who  had  been  educated  and 
supported  by  it  from  boyhood. 

As   an    officer,   Lieutenant    firisbine   was   much 


A    RECOBD.  299 

esteemed ;  as  a  companion,  he  was  admired  by 
every  one.  I  doubt  if  he  had  an  enemy  in  the 
army  or  at  home.  He  won  his  promotion  in  the 
field  ;  and  it  was,  therefore,  a  much  greater  prize 
than  a  higher  rank  conferred  by  favor.  He  was 
commissioned  early  in  1862. 

LIEUTENANT  -CHARLES  A.  BROOKS. 

The  .subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Bristol, 
Trumbull  County,  in  the  year  1843.  He  early  de 
veloped  those  good  qualities  of  head  and  heart  for 
which  he  was  afterwards  so  distinguished.  Being  a 
good  student,  attentive  to  his  books,  as  he  was  to 
every  other  good  purpose,  he  acquired  a  good  edu 
cation,  which  would  have  enabled  him  to  engage  in 
any  occupation  with  credit  to  himself  and  profit  to 
the  community. 

He  was  desirous  of  entering  the  service  when  the 
war  first  began,  but  was  held  back  by  domestic  ties 
which  bound  him  strongly  to  home.  But  on  the 
second  call  for  troops,  he  could  no  longer  remain 
out  of  the  army  ;  and,  hastening  to  a  recruiting  sta 
tion,  he  enlisted  in  Company  H,  of  the  Seventh 
Regiment.  He  arrived  at  Camp  Dennison  on  the 
30th  of  May,  and,  with  others,  was  mustered  into 
the  service.  His  tall,  commanding  figure,  connected 
with  his  sterling  qualities  of  mind,  pointed  him  out 
as  a  proper  person  for  promotion.  He  was,  there- 


300      THE  SEVENTH  EEGIMENT: 

fore  made  a  corporal,  and,  as  soon  as  a  vacancy  oc 
curred,  a  sergeant.  His  officers  soon  put  unlimited 
confidence  in  him.  If  a  hazardous  enterprise  was 
to  be  performed,  he  was  deemed  fitting  to  undertake 
it.  While  still  a  sergeant,  Creighton  would  often 
point  him  out  as  his  future  adjutant.  Finally,  when 
Adjutant  Shepherd  was  compelled  to  resign,  on  ac 
count  of  growing  ill  health,  Creighton  procured  his 
appointment  as  first-lieutenant,  and  at  once  detailed 
him  as  his  adjutant.  He  came  to  this  position  en 
tirely  qualified  ;  for,  from  the  time  he  had  been 
made  orderly  of  Company  H,  he  transacted  all  of 
the  business  of  the  company.  He  was  in  the  aifair 
at  Cross  Lanes,  and  all  other  skirmishes  in  which 
the  regiment  was  engaged,  as  well  as  the  following 
battles  :  Port  Republic,  Cedar  Mountain,  Dumfries, 
Chancellorsville,  and  Gettysburg. 

Near  the  close  of  the  battle  of  Port  Republic,  he 
saw  one  of  his  old  officers  lying,  seriously  wounded, 
so  near  the  enemy's  lines  as  to  be  in  danger  of  cap 
ture.  Throwing  down  his  gun,  in  company  with 
Charles  Garrard,  he  braved  the  battle-fire,  and 
brought  his  old  comrade  safely  from  the  field ; 
thus,  probably,  saving  his  life. 

At  the  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain  he  was  slightly 
wounded,  losing  a  finger. 

In  July  he  was  sent  to  Ohio  to  bring  forward  the 
drafted  men  assigned  to  the  Seventh.  While  on  his 


A    BECOKD.  301 

way  from  Columbus  to  his  home  in  Bristol,  he  met 
•with  a  frightful  accident  resulting  in  death.  While 
seated  in  an  omnibus,  it  was  driven  on  to  the  rail 
road  track,  directly  in  front  of  a  train.  In  jumping 
out,  he  was  knocked  down  by  the  cars  and  run 
over,  mangling  both  legs  frightfully.  He  was  taken 
to  the  New  England  House,  but  nothing  could  be 
done  for  him,  and  he  expired  early  the  following 
morning.  The  following  is  from  the  pen  of  one  who 
knew  him  and  prized  him  :* 

"  The  career  of  this  young  man  has  been  short 
but  brilliant.  He  has  been  a  soldier  and  a  man ; 
pure,  noble-hearted,  sympathetic,  and  always  ready 
for  any  duty.  He  has  been  brave,  courageous,  and 
trustworthy.  He  has  gone  from  us  with  no  stain 
upon  his  honor,  no  spots  upon  his  escutcheon,  but 
with  his  armor  begrimed  with  the  dust  of  many 
battles.  Although  young  in  years,  he  had  lived 
long,  if  you  count  the  hardships  he  had  endured, 
the  stirring  and  momentous  events  through  which 
he  had  passed,  and  in  the  transpiring  of  which  he 
had  been  an  actor,  the  service  he  rendered  his  coun 
try,  and  humanity  at  large,  and  the  good  he  had 
done ;  if  gauged  by  this  standard,  he  had  become 
more  mature  than  many  men  who  have  attained 
their  threescore  and  ten  years.  So  bright  an  ex- 

*  Colonel  J.  F.  Asper. 


302  THE    SEVENTH    REGIMENT: 

ample  cannot  fail  to  have  a  good  influence  upon  the 
young  men  of  the  country.  His  violent  death  will 
bring  his  virtues  prominently  before  their  minds, 
and  cannot  fail  to  make  an  impression.  Let  all  be 
exhorted  to  emulate  his  patriotism,  his  gallantry, 
his  valor,  his  promptness  in  the  discharge  of  duty, 
his  kindness  of  heart,  suavity  of  manner,  his  manly 
and  soldier-like  qualities  ;  and  if  in  civil  life,  they 
will  become  manlier  men — if  in  military  life,  they 
cannot  fail  to  become  better  and  braver  soldiers." 

He  was  buried  near  where  he  was  born,  on  the 
banks  of  a  rippling  brook,  under  the  shade  of  beau 
tiful  trees,  through  the  boughs  of  which  will  sing 
an  everlasting  requiem  fitting  so  brave  and  active 
a  spirit.  The  citizens  of  the  vicinity  turned  out  in 
mass  to  honor  his  memory  with  their  presence, 
and  tearful  eyes  and  expressive  looks  showed 
their  heartfelt  sympathy  for  the  afflicted  mother, 
sister,  brother,  and  relatives;  while  a  military  or 
ganization  from  Warren  gave  him  the  fitting  es 
cort,  and  fired  three  volleys  over  his  grave. 

A  grateful  public  will  not  forget  this  heroic  and 
noble  sacrifice.  Let  an  enduring  monument  be 
erected.  Not  of  marble,  which  may  crumble ; 
but  let  his  manly  deeds  be  engraved  upon  the 
tablets  of  their  memory,  and  let  his  virtues  and 
sacrifices  be  interwoven  with  the  affections,  the 
sympathies,  and  the  lives  of  the  people,  so  that 


A    KECOED.  303 

while  time  lasts,  and  all  that  is  noble  in  human 
action,  good  in  thought,  and  true  in  conception 
and  motive,  shall  be  treasured  as  sacred  memories, 
this  hero  will  not  be  forgotten,  because  kept  fresh 
with  the  watering  of  many  tears. 

LIEUTENANT  JOSEPH  H.  ROSS. 

Joseph  II.  Ross  entered  the  service  as  a  private 
in  Captain  "W.  R.  Sterling's  company.  Soon  after 
arriving  in  camp  he  was  made  a  sergeant,  and 
finally  orderly.  He  was  engaged  in  all  the  marches 
and  skirmishes  in  Western  Virginia,  and  at  Cross 
Lanes  fought  like  a  veteran.  He  was  in  the  battle 
of  Winchester,  where  he  displayed  such  reckless 
bravery  as  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  entire 
command.  While  the  regiment  was  partially 
concealed  ,  behind  a  ridge,  within  eighty  yards  of 
the  enemy,  Ross  was  not  content  with  remaining 
at  such  a  distance,  but  creeping  over  the  hill, 
crawled  forward  on  his  hands  and  knees  till  he 
wras  midway  between  the  lines,  and  taking  a  posi 
tion  behind  a  rock,  swung  his  hat  to  those  behind. 
,  None  but  Sergeant  Whiting,  of  Company  D,  had 
the  courage  to  follow  him.  From  behind  this  rock, 
the  two  heroes  kept  up  a  constant  fire  on  the  en 
emy,  hitting  their  man  at  every  shot. 

Ross  wTas  now  made  a  lieutenant,  and   assigned 
to  Company  C.     He  was  in  the  battle  of  Port  Re- 


304  THE    SEVENTH     KECHMENT. 

public,  where  he  fought  with  his  usual  bravery. 
At  the  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain  he  commanded 
Company  C.  During  the  entire  day  lie  led  his 
men  with  such  certainty,  that  they  slaughtered 
the  enemy  fearfully.  Night  came,  and  he  had  not 
received  a  scratch,  while  the  thinned  ranks  testified 
how  many  had  fallen  around' him.  Soon  after  dark, 
as  if  the  regiment  had  not  already  suffered  suffi 
ciently,  it  was  ordered  on  picket.  When  about  *a 
mile  out,  it  was  fired  upon  from  all  quarters,  and 
Lieutenant  Ross  fell,  mortally  wounded.  lie  died 
soon  after.  His  loss  was  deeply  felt,  both  in  the  army 
and  at  home ;  for  he  was  a  true  soldier  and  friend. 

LIEUTENANT  FRANK  JOHNSON. 

At  this  same  bloody  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain, 
another  youthful  hero  fell,  Frank  Johnson,  Company 
F.  He  had  entered  the  service  as  a  private  in 
John  Man's  company,  and  had  risen  through  the 
different  grades  of  corporal  and  sergeant  to  be  a 
lieutenant.  He  had  toiled  along  through  the  hard 
marches  of  the  Seventh,  struggling  against  a  weak 
constitution,  which  was  every  day  being  impaired 
by  hardships  and  exposure.  He  had  fought  nobly 
in  the  battles  of  Winchester  and  Port  Republic, — 
recognized  by  the  authorities  by  giving  him  a  com 
mission  ;  and  now,  in  the  morning  of  his  new  life  as 
a  leader,  he  fell  at  the  head  of  his  company. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


RM,^if 

ADD    *>  A    irtrw- 

APR  /i4  198b 

( 

riRCULATION  DEPT. 

JAN  2  3  1967  59 

IN  STACKS 

JAN  2    1967 

RECEIVED 

kiArt  O  -i  ic~7    rc  PWI 

MAR  /Ib/  -0  rfl 

L.QAT4  DEF  *  • 

w^ms* 

HPT  ?  1  'fifi  -3  PtV 

Uljl  c~  i  ^^    **  ' 

.    *•*  «t  M  —  r^gQT 

LD  21A-60m-10,'65 
(F7763slO)476B 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


GENERAL  LIBRARY -U.C.BERKE 


M181765 


•5" 

7th 


THE  'ERSITV  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


